Publications
Publication details [#50942]
Webster, Jonathan J. 2009. Language in Hong Kong: Ten years on (1997–2007). In Hoffmann, Thomas and Lucia Siebers, eds. World Englishes – Problems, Properties and Prospects. Selected papers from the 13th IAWE conference. (Varieties of English Around the World G40). John Benjamins. pp. 143–154.
Publication type
Article in book
Publication language
English
Keywords
Language as a subject
Place, Publisher
John Benjamins
Annotation
Ten years after the return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty, English continues to play a significant role in the life of the Hong Konger. This paper surveys the changing perception of English in Hong Kong since 1997: while it used to be considered a colonial language, it has now turned into an “international language of ‘upward and outward mobility’” (Flowerdew and Scollon 1997: 419). In particular, the educational policies concerning English as a medium of instruction at the secondary school level in the special administrative region (SAR) will be discussed. Finally, it will be argued that in the future Hong Kong’s language policy will most likely continue to promote development of biliteracy and trilingualism.