Editorial | Both traditional and simplified Chinese have value for Hong Kong

Despite growing cross-border integration, maintaining biliteracy and trilingualism continues to set Hong Kong apart from the rest of the country under “one country, two systems”. Embedded into the local education policy, the emphasis on learning English, Mandarin and Cantonese is as much an integral part of the city’s cultural identity as it is the formula for success in connecting with the mainland and the world. The policy is based on historical development and actual needs and has been serving the city well.

The Shatin Government Primary School came under fire not just for what was said to be a lack of consultation with parents on the new arrangement. It touched a raw nerve on the politically sensitive issue of Hong Kong-mainland relations. As some parents argued, their children might become disadvantaged and lose out to those who can answer exam questions more quickly. The move was also seen by some as the school bending rules and norms for the minority.

The school said the change aimed to provide a more friendly assessment environment for pupils with mainland backgrounds and could give local pupils the opportunity to learn both writing systems to enhance their skills. While the use of simplified Chinese characters is allowed in the Diploma of Secondary Education examination, local schools are expected to follow the traditional writing system for teaching and examination. Former chief executive Leung Chun-ying also said pupils from the mainland should make an effort to master traditional characters due to their widespread use in Hong Kong.

Just like mainland students are expected to use English or the local language when studying abroad, learning traditional Chinese characters is essential regardless of the students’ background. It would also do well for local students to understand simplified characters while pursuing biliteracy and trilingualism.