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> They used to teach English in HK schools. Cantonese was used to teach Chinese if not other subjects in schools. I'm talking about the switch of the medium of
by spacehunt 10y ago
> They used to teach English in HK schools.
Cantonese was used to teach Chinese if not other subjects in schools. I'm talking about the switch of the medium of instruction from either English or Cantonese to Putonghua. There are even not-so-subtle "not knowing Putonghua" = "treats customers bad" stuff appearing in textbooks.
> HK and Guangzhou are exceptionally similar in culture
I totally agree, but note I said northern China. Guangzhou is facing the same problem to a much larger degree, unfortunately people there have mostly given up.
> Lastly, having left HK and seen the rest of the world, I want to ask "what culture?" Nearly all of HK culture is imported and cheap copies of other cultures such as China, UK, and Japan.
Looks like I have a slightly broader definition of "culture" than yours. Would you say Aussie culture is a cheap copy of America's, for example?
- hangonhn 10y agoMy apologies. Someone later on in the thread gave me an update on the educational language changes and it is indeed absurd. That said, as a member of the HK diaspora, whenever someone complains about culture it often ends up being a nativist argument against immigrants. To hear someone from HK bring that up, especially against a population we are similar to, is a bit hard to take.
- spacehunt 10y agoNo need to apologise -- as my parents are still overseas I totally understand, how things are happening far more quickly (and in a more absurd direction) than overseas HKers ever imagine. That said, I don't have anything against mainland Chinese people -- I have worked with them, became friends with them. Yet, it is through extensive interactions with them that have made me realise how different we are, not just in languages or food but in how we think. That's the essence of what we are trying to preserve, and what the PRC is trying to eradicate.