IT IS increasingly apparent that higher educational institutions are failing to perform their social and economic roles in Hongkong.
Focusing on English language skills, it is my impression that 80 to 90 per cent of the graduates churned out from local universities, polytechnics and colleges in the past 10 years are internationally incompetent.
Incompetent because the majority are unable to read and write properly, or carry out a normal conversation correctly (grammatically), either on a commercial or social basis.
For Hongkong to prosper as an international business city and maintain its standard of living, it will have to stand apart from other Chinese cities after the handover of sovereignty in 1997.
Hongkong's remaining comparative advantages (in competition with other Chinese cities) are its international capabilities, connections and understanding of the world.
With Hongkong becoming more of a Chinese city (in culture and language), it is imperative that a sufficient number of English speakers are employed at universities, colleges and polytechnics so that students can have the opportunity to practise their communication skills.
I suggest 30 to 40 per cent of the lecturers and professors should be from countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia or Britain.