Language

The official languages of Hong Kong are Chinese and English. It is the Government's policy to develop and maintain a Civil Service that is proficient in both written Chinese and English and conversant in Cantonese, Putonghua and spoken English.

While reports and publications of public interest issued by the Government are available in both languages, correspondence with the public is in the language appropriate to the recipients. Simultaneous interpretation services are provided at official meetings when necessary.

The Official Languages Agency assumes a strategic and proactive role in providing language support to bureaux and departments. In 2001, the agency continued to promote the wider use of Chinese in the Civil Service in addition to its responsibility of delivering translation and interpretation services. It implemented specific action plans for bureaux and departments including a system of network liaison officers; a telephone enquiry service on general usage of Chinese; and an outreach programme to assist departments in the use of Chinese.

The agency also developed writing aids and reference materials such as guidebooks on official Chinese writing. By the end of the year, the agency had compiled 21 volumes of English-Chinese glossaries of terms commonly used in government departments and sets of samples of official documents. The agency will continue its efforts in the provision of high quality language support to bureaux and departments.