The Government has been accused of presiding over a decline in the English language after it emerged expatriate civil servant numbers have hit a record low.
Allan Roger, president of the Association of Expatriate Civil Servants, spoke out after figures obtained by the Sunday Morning Post showed only 563 'non-local officers' remain - down from 1,249 at the handover.
'It's absurd. The Government should make a positive effort to recruit native English-speakers. It's not a racial issue but a linguistic one. Hong Kong's reputation is at stake,' said Mr Roger.
His attack on the Government echoes increasing concern over the deteriorating standards of English in the SAR.
'I have seen the standards decline. Everyone has, and the Government must face up to this,' he said.
'I think the perception was that after the handover, English did not matter so much and consequently standards were allowed to decline. When I came here in 1987 the proportion of overseas civil servants was 11 per cent, and now it is less than half of one per cent.'