Legislators have been challenged to put their Putonghua to the test by using it in Legco meetings on National Putonghua Speaking Day on September 13.
The campaign to promote the language in Hong Kong is being launched for the first time by RTHK in conjunction with the State Council's Putonghua Speaking Week, held on the third week of September every year.
Legislator Choy So-yuk, a consultant for the campaign, urged fellow lawmakers to give their speeches in Putonghua on the day. Although Legco goes into recess this week until October 10, urgent matters may be brought before it.
'I hope they can at least try to speak as much as possible even though they may not be very fluent in it,' said Ms Choy, a native of Fujian. 'I don't want to be mean. A few of them were really terrible when I first heard them speaking Putonghua. But they're doing quite well now.'
Democrat James To Kun-sun said he would not be ashamed to give it a try, although he was downbeat on his Putonghua ability.
'Sure, I can do it,' he said. 'I will practise my speech and choose words that I know how to pronounce. But, of course, I'm not fluent. I would say I'm less than fair.'
Emily Lau Wai-hing of The Frontier said: 'It's not a bad thing. I've given speeches in Putonghua before.