PUTONGHUA is now being seen as an essential part of hotel industry training, and those in the trade are asking that it be added to the training curriculum as soon as possible.
Hotel dealings with businessmen from China, especially now with the run-up to 1997, is growing rapidly, and this has prompted the Vocational Training Council (VTC) to consider adding Putonghua to its list of hotel industry subjects.
Both hotel trainees and lecturers believe Putonghua training could boost the standard of hotel service and help enhance trade between Hong Kong and China.
At present, the VTC's two hotel training centres, in Kowloon Bay and Pokfulam, offer one year and half-year full-time certificate courses in Western Cuisine and Food and Beverage Operations, Chinese Food Preparation, Front Office and Housekeeping Operations.
Part-time programmes for supervisors working in the hotel industry include front office supervisory, food and beverage supervisory and house-keeping supervisory.
Mr Casey Cheung, chief instructor (front office), said most courses provided English language training, depending on how much contact trainees would have with foreigners.
Mr Cheung said it was a pity the curriculum did not include Putonghua.