HC Deb 02 December 1971 vol 827 c174W
Mr. James Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under what circumstances the Chinese language is used in the law courts of Hong Kong.

Mr. Anthony Royle

Court records are kept in English and legal argument is conducted in English but a litigant or witness whose language is Chinese may use Chinese in any court proceedings and the proceedings are interpreted for him.

Mr. James Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the present position regarding the use of the Chinese language in the secondary schools of Hong Kong; and what changes are contemplated.

Mr. Anthony Royle

There are two major types of Secondary School in Hong Kong: Anglo-Chinese, and Middle Schools. The former teach all subjects, apart from Chinese studies, in English; the latter teach all subjects except English, in Chinese. The aim is to improve the standard of English in the Chinese schools and the standard of Chinese in the Anglo-Chinese schools.