Beijing official urges Hong Kong lawmakers to sharpen Mandarin
Thestandard · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
A study trip by Hong Kong's Legislative Council to Beijing last month included a five-hour discussion with Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, in the Hong Kong Hall of the Great Hall of the People. Nearly half of the 88 attending lawmakers spoke during the session, according to the report. After hearing one member speak with a noticeable local accent, Xia encouraged legislators to improve their spoken Putonghua, while also praising Kenneth Fok's strong Mandarin. Lawmakers and commentators later described the remarks as well-intentioned and linked them to the practical need for better communication with mainland officials and policy documents.
Key Points
- The Beijing visit featured 88 Legislative Council members and a five-hour exchange with Xia Baolong in the Hong Kong Hall of the Great Hall of the People.
- Nearly half of the lawmakers present shared their views during the meeting, making it an unusually broad discussion between Beijing and Hong Kong legislators.
- Xia raised Mandarin standards after one lawmaker spoke with a noticeable local accent, and he singled out Kenneth Fok for strong Putonghua ability.
- An attending lawmaker said members with average Mandarin later pledged to practise more often after Xia's comments during the Beijing session.
- Lau Siu-kai and Executive Council member Ronny Tong Ka-wah both said lawmakers should strengthen language skills, including Mandarin speaking, listening and Chinese writing.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the episode points to a practical expectation that public representatives can communicate more effectively with mainland officials and understand central policy materials directly. It also adds pressure on lawmakers to treat language ability as part of their job performance, alongside policy knowledge and public communication.