Character assassination? Hong Kong’s furore over simplified Chinese

Defenders of the city’s unique linguistic identity have panned a plan to teach simplified Chinese in schools. But could it help our children get ahead?

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Fung Pik-yee, headmistress of Aplichau Kaifong Primary School. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 7:45pm, 3 Mar 2016Updated: 3:22pm, 4 Mar 2016

Hongkongers’ sensitivity about their language has been pricked again by a mooted plan to teach simplified Chinese in schools.

At the start of last month, it emerged that the Education Bureau’s latest consultation document said local pupils should learn to read simplified characters.

Traditional characters are the norm. The simplified form is used on the mainland, but deemed inferior to the traditional form by some, and sometimes mocked as “crippled” or “mutilated characters”. Intellectuals, educators, parents and localists have all aired views, and public sentiment on the matter was evidenced last week when TVB started using simplified characters during Putonghua newscasts on its J5 channel – sparking 10,000 complaints.

The debate has heightened potency, raging against the backdrop of the Mong Kok riot and the resulting prominence of localism evidenced in last weekend’s New Territories East by-election.

The state-run People’s Daily urged people not to politicise the issue and pin derogatory labels on simplified characters, while Legco president Jasper Tsang Yok-sing said people didn’t need teaching simplified characters and could learn them on their own.

Some say the policy is part of a hidden government agenda to do away with traditional characters along with Cantonese and further "mainlandisation".

Character assassination? Hong Kong’s furore over simplified Chinese

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Defenders of the city’s unique linguistic identity have panned a plan to teach simplified Chinese in schools. But could it help our children get ahead?

READ MORE: Education Bureau says primary school students should learn simplified Chinese

Defenders of the city’s unique linguistic identity have panned a plan to teach simplified Chinese in schools. But could it help our children get ahead?