Lost in translation: the anonymous Legco interpreters who serve as the alter egos of Hong Kong's lawmakers

Politics watchers tuning in to the sound and fury of the Legislative Council will have long heard their voices, but they are a faceless and nameless team.

The chamber's interpreters, however, form an integral part of the legislature, helping make sure debates run smoothly with their precise and speedy delivery and serving as the alter egos of lawmakers whose speaking styles range from the loud to the lyrical.

Thanks to their role bridging the communication gap between mutually unintelligible tongues, non-Cantonese speakers are able to comprehend the fiery debates in the chamber between members and government officials. Non-English speakers also rely on them for instant translation from those delivering speeches in English.

The team is made up of 14 full-time simultaneous interpreters employed by the government to provide interpretation services in different settings, including meetings held by district councils, government boards and committees, and press conferences and seminars. Six of them are deployed to Legco meetings on a rotational basis.

Approached for an interview, the interpreters politely declined to be singled out by name, saying their role is not to have a registered presence but only a voice - a voice the content of which is somebody else's.

But they were able to share insights into the mental challenges and adrenaline rush they experience as they try to convert the language of lawmakers and officials into another tongue on the fly as accurately as possible.

They emphasise the multi-tasking required of them in their work - listening, comprehending, analysing the underlying meaning, and translating, all within seconds.