Parents are eager to have their children learn foreign languages, so why not try sign language?
A smartphone application has been developed to teach people up to 99 words.
The Hong Kong Sign Language Association spent two months developing the city's first sign language app after receiving a HK$60,000 grant from the Labour and Welfare Bureau.
'The most difficult part of the app development process was the communication between the app developer and me - all based on the exchange of e-mails,' said language instructor Kong Wan-ki, using sign language which was translated by an interpreter.
'A simple problem took more than 10 e-mails to solve because everything had to be written down clearly in words. That's why it took one more month to get the app done,' Kong said.
'Sign language is useful for everyone. It shows respect if people can use basic sign language to communicate with those who have a hearing impairment.'