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HKDSE - Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education
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Students sit the DSE exam at the Kiangsu-Chekiang College in North Point. A recent study found 62 per cent of Hong Kong school principals support the lowering of minimum language requirements for university admissions. Photo: Pool

Lower the bar for English and Chinese? Why Hong Kong must raise standards early instead

Rather than lowering the standards of English and Chinese in schools and for university admissions, why not take positive steps to improve the use of both languages from primary school onwards? To be truly proficient in any language, the foundations laid down in the early stages are crucial. Only through oral usage, as well as reading and writing, can any language be truly mastered.

If Hong Kong really aims at being an international centre, it cannot afford to lower the standards for its two official languages. We must embrace our bilingual heritage and also encourage the study of other useful and rich world languages, to maintain our status as an international centre.

Nelly Fung, Repulse Bay

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