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The “Use of Chinese in Civil Service” report states that the purpose is to give “a clear identity and a more authoritative status to assume a strategic and co-ordinating role in developing the language capability of the Civil Service.”
The objective is to develop a biliterate and a trilingual Civil Service structure, meaning every civil servant should master English, Cantonese and Putonghua proficiently.
About $131 million will be spent on purchasing Chinese word processing computer software for the secretarial and general grade staff.
Ms Margaret Chan, secretary of a working group for the “Use of Chinese in Civil Service”, said, “The responses from the civil servants are very positive. There’s a series of training programmes provided for the staff.”
Ms Chan said that the civil servants have always been encouraged to use Chinese. The programme was just to reinforce this
practice, to make those who know Chinese to use it more often. “The interests of foreign civil servants are also being considered. They have a priority in applying for these Chinese courses.
“Also, study programmes are arranged in universities in China to provide a suitable environment to learn Chinese.
“On the whole, every one is well taken care of. So, the morale of the staff will not be affected at all,” she said.
She did not think that the politicalchanges would put great pressure on the civil servants.
“I believe they have the ability to adjust to the new circumstance. There might be some minor problems or pressure as expected. However, I think they can fit in the changes very well,” said Ms Chan.
She compared learning Chinese to learning computers.
“Many years ago, people were unfamiliar with computers and found them difficult to cope with. But now, computers are more popular and widely used. Using Chinese in the Civil Service is just the same,” she said.
Ms Chan said that the efficiency in the Civil Service might slow down a bit at the beginning.
However, she is sure that once the adjustment period is over, everything will be run as usual.
“A pilot scheme launched in the Housing Department had proved to be a success. Many staff took opportunities to use Chinese and attended the training courses.
“Obviously, if it’s workable in the Housing Department, it’ll be the same in other government departments. We only have to do it step by step,” she said.
Ms Mimi Yeung, senior Publicity Officer of the Housing Department, said the result of the pilot scheme was satisfactory.
“We welcome the use of Chinese more often in our department since we always get in touch with local residents.
“Right now, we have started to concentrate on communicating in Chinese internally. Training in Chinese writing and computer processing are provided for different divisions so as to make wider use of Chinese possible.”
Mr. Philip Cheung, chairman of Hong Kong Civil Servants General Union and the vice-chairman of the Court Interpreters’ Association, welcomed the report, but said it was a “late spring”.
“I have doubts about its success. I don’t think the government has spent enough effort in carrying it out. Some details in the report are unclear or have not been approved of. There is not even a schedule for the programme.
“I’m most worried that this programme will be delayed with the resignation of Mr. Sze Cho Cheung. I hope it’ll really work out after a new Secretary for Civil Service is appointed,” Mr. Cheung said.
He also highlighted some underlying problems.
“Providing the training first to chief officers and then to general secretarial staff is unrealistic. Those who need training most are the front-line workers, interpreters and translators of the courts.
“If their needs are ignored, in the long run it will become a serious handicap in the government administration,” he said. He urges the government to make some changes accordingly.
“If the government really wants a sound programme to work out, a timetable should be set up. The government also needs to state
an objective. Otherwise, everything will be quite meaningless,” Mr. Cheung said.
