Why Mandarin and English should remain Hong Kong’s second languages and not displace Cantonese

At first glance, this seems plausible. As a result of globalisation and China’s thriving economy, there will be more people using Mandarin for commercial reasons.

However, a closer look at the issue reveals that belittling Cantonese can be counterproductive. Admittedly, using Mandarin in teaching may imply some commercial opportunities for teenagers. Yet, Cantonese is our mother tongue and we use it to communicate in our daily lives. Thus, its utility transcends mere employment.

In my view, second languages such as Mandarin and English should be for specific purposes. They cannot and should not displace Hongkonger’s native tongue – Cantonese. Otherwise, we might lose an in-depth understanding of our own traditions. For instance, if we adopt Mandarin in teaching Chinese, the rhymes of traditional poems could be lost.

Mr Yeung should think twice before he suggests radical measures.

Soong Hong, Kwai Chung