Poor Putonghua pronunciation a concern for Hong Kong as national anthem law looms, pro-Beijing politician says
Questions about solemnity and the consequences for native Cantonese speakers who unintentionally mispronounce the song
Hongkongers’ poor pronunciation of Putonghua could be a concern in light of a proposed mainland law to curb disrespect for the national anthem that is also set to be applied in the city, a local deputy to China’s top legislature has said.
Michael Tien Puk-sun said it was therefore important to state clearly how the city would interpret the national anthem law.
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At the heart of the anxieties was whether the city would be subject to the same severity of punishment as cities on the mainland, which has different standards for guaranteeing individual rights and freedoms.
Speaking on a radio programme on Thursday, Tien said pronunciation issues could prove thorny when enacting the law.
“You know how we Hongkongers speak Putonghua ... I don’t know why, but somehow when those who have Cantonese as their mother tongue speak Putonghua, the effect is quite negative,” he said.
Tien noted that if one intentionally mispronounces, then it would be classified as abuse. But he questioned how a person who unintentionally mispronounces would be judged.