Few issues spark stormier debates than the subject of education, in particular the teaching of English. Certainly the matter is a pressing one and could well involve the survival of Hong Kong as a key business entrepot for the mainland.
Without widespread English language competency, Hong Kong will undoubtedly struggle to achieve its goal of being the New York or the London of Asia. To equate to such cities it must have a truly international character, which demands more than language abilities. Nevertheless foreign language ability - notably English - is a good place to start.
Education nowadays concerns every section of the community. Old assumptions about leaving formal learning behind after school or university no longer apply and are completely outmoded. Learning must be viewed as a career-long process simply because people can rarely any longer expect to concentrate on one area of expertise throughout their career. Retraining simply to stay abreast of technological developments and changing work practices is now a must for most people. Much has been said previously on this subject and yet such an approach still remains a radical and unrealised concept for most people.
The views put forward yesterday by Michael Tien Puk-sun, chairman of the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research, will no doubt rekindle the arguments over the best way to teach languages; not only the best way, but also the way that is practical and achievable.
Mr Tien's view that total immersion in Putonghua and English at secondary school level is the only way to achieve the language standards required of the workforce of tomorrow is a radical idea.
Such a move, if implemented in earnest with the necessary resources - which would be vast - would involve a profound change in the character of Hong Kong and its culture. A language is more than simply a means of communication; it also signifies a way of viewing the world. And such a policy as proposed by Mr Tien would, in effect, relegate Cantonese to the cultural dustbin.