LIKE ITS COLONIAL predecessor, the post-handover Government has, for the most part, adhered to the British form of English. But the American influence on SAR bureaucracy-speak is becoming increasingly visible. The current crisis in Afghanistan has provided some evidence.
On October 12, the United Nations Sanctions (Afghanistan) (Arms Embargoes) Regulation was gazetted. An official press release explained that the move was meant to freeze the financial assets of 'Usama' bin Laden and any person connected with him.
Most government agencies elsewhere, including the Chinese and British foreign ministries, have referred to the leader of al-Qaeda as 'Osama' in English. So have the Saudi Arabian authorities. America's FBI is the only notable exception. The name 'Usama bin Laden' is used on the FBI's list of most wanted terrorists.
The media statement also referred to territories of Afghanistan under 'Taliban' control - again an American version of the word. Our two Hong Kong daily newspapers published in English have both followed the British style in calling the regime 'Taleban'.
Article 9 of the Basic Law stipulates: 'In addition to the Chinese language, English may also be used as an official language by the executive authorities, legislature and Judiciary of the HKSAR.' The mini-constitution does not specify which brand of English. It is only a matter of convention that the administration has preferred 'British English'. After all, students are still being told to avoid 'Americanisms', at least for examination purposes, despite the fact that the spell-check functions of their word processors are mostly based on the American vocabulary.
Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa was meticulous in adopting British spelling in his recent Policy Address. Hence, there were 'subsidised' schools, Family Service 'Centres' and a 'labour' market.
The term 'favourable' was used six times in his script. Yet, when the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority released its survey findings two months ago, it said comedy was the most 'favorable' movie genre.