On Shifting from Cantonese to Mandarin: A Response to the Shangri-La Chair’s "Competitiveness" Argument

Is learning a language merely a matter of competitiveness, or is there something more to it?

Recently, Hui Kuok, Chairman and CEO of the Shangri-La Group, suggested at the HSBC Global Investment Summit that Hong Kong schools should consider replacing Cantonese with Mandarin as the primary medium of instruction. What’s her argument? To make the next generation more "competitive," Hong Kong must tighten its linguistic and cultural ties with mainland China.

As the daughter of Robert Kuok—Malaysia’s richest man—Hui Kuok is a Harvard graduate who is fluent in both English and Mandarin, and has long worked and held public roles in Hong Kong. But perhaps the details lie deep within her own family roots.

The Kuok Family Roots: Passing Down Hokchew

The Kuok family originally hails from Fuzhou, Fujian. According to the senior Mr. Kuok’s autobiography, he grew up in an environment shaped by Hokchew (the Fuzhou dialect), English, and Japanese. For the older generation of Chinese tycoons, a dialect wasn't just a way to identify fellow townsfolk; it was the intimate language of home—used to connect with grandparents, parents, and siblings.

This piece of the Kuok family history reminds us of a truth that is often overlooked: in Chinese society, language is never just a tool for communication. It is a vessel for generational heritage, family bonds, and cultural memory. This is precisely why Hong Kongers are so deeply sensitive about the status of Cantonese in schools. It isn’t mere "local sentimentality"—it is a very real anxiety over the survival of our culture.

If the Kuok family still takes pride in their Hokchew roots and identity today, why expect Hong Kongers to abandon theirs—Cantonese?

What the Data Actually Shows

According to the 2021 Hong Kong Census, among residents aged 5 and older, 96.0% can speak Cantonese, 56.5% can speak Mandarin, and 57.7% can speak English. In other words, while Mandarin and English are clearly on the rise, Cantonese remains the dominant, most functional language in daily Hong Kong life.

Furthermore, in Hong Kong, the Education Bureau’s official stance on Chinese Language Education has never been about "replacing Cantonese with Mandarin." Instead, it emphasizes that learning should be built upon the student’s mother tongue. The goals are clear: students should master standard written Chinese, speak fluent Cantonese, and be able to communicate in Mandarin. Teaching Chinese in Mandarin (PMIC) is intended to be a school-based choice depending on local needs, not a blanket erasure of Cantonese.

Hong Kong’s current educational framework treats Mandarin as an enhancement, not a replacement.

The "Competitiveness" Trap: Where it Fails

It is easy to see why the 'pro-Mandarin' argument is so seductive. As economic ties between Hong Kong and the mainland deepen, fluency in Mandarin undeniably offers an edge in higher education, job hunting, and business. There is no arguing with that.

The problem arises when we stretch this practical perk into a mandate to replace Cantonese in classrooms. Education is supposed to be about understanding, critical thinking, and personal growth—not just churning out a workforce tailored for the labour market.

Language is Heart, Not Just a Tool

We learn a language to work, but we don't live just to work. Language carries meaning far beyond the office:

1. Emotional Connection: Cantonese is our mother tongue. It’s the language we use to joke with family and pour our hearts out to friends.

2. Cultural Context: Language carries a society's soul. Without Cantonese, Hong Kong cinema, Cantopop, and our signature sense of humor lose their heartbeat.

3. Global Community: Cantonese is spoken by nearly 100 million people worldwide. Speaking

Cantonese is a powerful bond that connects you instantly to vibrant communities and Chinatowns across the globe.

We hold onto Cantonese because it represents our cultural dignity. If we completely reshape education to prioritize Mandarin over our native tongue just for the sake of "competitiveness," we lose more than just our spirit. We lose the warmth of family connection, and the sense of love and belonging to the place we call home.

If staying competitive means abandoning our mother tongue, is that a price we are truly willing to pay?