Table of Contents
What percentage of Hong Kong speaks English?
The proportion of the Hong Kong population who report using English (that is, all forms) as their “usual spoken language” increased from 2.8% in 2006 to 4.3% in 2016, while 51.1%, 63.5% and 65.6% respectively, reported being able to speak, write and read the language.
How many languages are spoken in Hong Kong?
Statistics for the 27 self-reported spoken languages/dialects reported in the 2011 Census, can be found in the report: Language Use, Proficiency and Attitudes in Hong Kong.
Why does Hong Kong speak Cantonese?
After the British acquired Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories from the Qing in 1841 (officially 1842) and 1898, large numbers of merchants and workers came to Hong Kong from the city of Canton, the main centre of Cantonese. Cantonese became the dominant spoken language in Hong Kong.
How many French are in Hong Kong?
The French Consulate estimates there are over 25,000 French citizens in Hong Kong.
How many Pakistanis live in Hong Kong?
Ethnic minorities
| Ethnic group | 2006 By-census | 2016 By-census |
|---|---|---|
| Number | Number | |
| Pakistani | 11,111 | 18,094 |
| Thai | 11,900 | 10,215 |
| Japanese | 13,189 | 9,976 |
Are Hongkongers fluent in English?
Only 6 percent of Hongkongers speak English well, although they tend to over-report their proficiency, a study by HKU’s Social Sciences Research Centre showed.
Is Hong Kong English friendly?
Estimates suggest that between 46-53% of people in Hong Kong are able to speak English. Mandarin is the other official language, with around half the population speaking that as well, whilst Cantonese is the most widespread language with almost the entire population speaking it.
Are Hong Kong people bilingual?
Hong Kong is an officially bilingual territory. Under article 9 of the Hong Kong Basic Law, and the Official Languages Ordinance, Both Chinese and English are equally official languages of the territory.
Can you live in Hong Kong and only speak English?
Plenty of expats live in HK, especially Discovery Bay. Heck even a lot of Asians who immigrated at a young age come back and do just fine, without having a decent grasp of the language. I personally worked with a few. Yup – you can pretty much live anywhere in Hong Kong only speaking English.
Is China banning Cantonese?
Protests have erupted in Hong Kong and Guangzhou over a plan by Guangzhou officials to ban Cantonese – the language of southern China – from prime-time television. Some Cantonese speakers say the move is an attack against their culture.
Why are there so many French in Hong Kong?
So what’s driving the current French love affair with Hong Kong? According to the Wall Street Journal, the city is the hottest spot for French people looking for better employment opportunities and ease of living outside of their unemployment-ridden country, with 800 French companies currently operating in Hong Kong.
How many Brits are in Hong Kong?
33,733
Ethnicity. Among the 33,733 citizens of the United Kingdom living in Hong Kong, 19,405 are of some European ethnicity, 6,893 are Chinese, 2,337 are Indian, 1,047 are Pakistani, 829 are Nepalese, 273 are other Asians, 227 are Filipino, 98 are Thai, 40 are Japanese, and 40 are Indonesian.
Can you survive with English in Hong Kong?
Do all Hong Kongers speak English?
Do Hong Kongers learn English?
Only 6 percent of Hongkongers speak English well, although they tend to over-report their proficiency, a study by HKU’s Social Sciences Research Centre showed. The results showed that 6 percent of respondents speak English well and 1.5 percent have a native-like command of the language.
How many people in Hong Kong speak English?
This statistic shows a breakdown of the Hong Kong population by language, based on the latest available census data from 2016. Based on this data, around 4.3 percent of Hong Kong inhabitants were English speakers. You need a Single Account for unlimited access.
What is the language proficiency rate in Hong Kong?
Language proficiency in Hong Kong (1996, 2016) Language Year percent percent Cantonese 1996 95.2% −0.6% Cantonese 2016 94.6% −0.6% English 1996 38.1% +15% English 2016 53.1% +15%
When did English become the official language of Hong Kong?
Historically, English was the sole official language of Hong Kong from 1883 to 1974. Only after demonstrations and petitions from Hong Kong people demanding equal status for Chinese did the language become official in Hong Kong from 1974 onward.
How common are Japanese conversations in Hong Kong?
There are over 25,000 Japanese people in Hong Kong, so it is not uncommon to hear Japanese conversations. More than 10,000 people in Hong Kong had taken the JLPT in 2005. Hong Kong-based R by R Production produces a television travel show set in Japan, which, as of April 2016, is broadcast on ViuTV. However, the language is often misused.