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English or languish
Probing the ramifications of Hong Kong's language policy

Quality Assessment
Section Five: Langauge and Society
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Hong Kong's Information Society
The structure, flow, and language of information in Hong Kong society

Government and Industry

Introduction

In the previous section we learned that a distinct majority, about 80% of all Hong Kong's who are actively employed and familiar with computers, are also familiar with a Chinese input method. In this section we learn that, although a growing industry as a whole, the IT&T industry and its impact on the UEL requirement is complex. Moreover, depending on how the industry is viewed, vary different conclusions can be drawn. Also mportant to note is that IT&T only constituted 4.2 percent of Hong Kong's entire economy in 2002 and that nearly all of IT&T's recent growth has been in distribution -- mainly trade with the Chinese mainland. Furthermore, where IT&T could add the most to Hong Kong's productivity economic activity has been both weak and flat. Finally, the big IT&T domestic drivers appears to be big business and irresponsible government.

So what is new? Read on, and find out what IT&T and the English language have in common in Hong Kong's fledgling, ha-ha, undemocratic democracy! There is more to democracy than highly visible demonstrations!

Index
Discussion and Explanation

Hong Kong's Information Technology and Telecommunication Industry
The industry that makes an information society possible

A macroeconomic overview

What households, governments, schools, and businesses only use industries produce.  Thus, rising demand for information technology and telecommunication equipment is a boon for economies that produce this technology. Economies that trade in this technology can also benefit.

A recent report released by the Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department divides the information technology and telecommunication industry (IT&T) into five major sub-industries including manufacturing, installation and maintenance, distribution, and two kinds of services -- information technology services and telecommunication services.1 These five subindustries together accounted for about 4.2 percent (see graph 98 - new window) of Hong Kong's total economic output in 2002 -- somewhat less than that of its over-touted tourist industry.2 Graph 100 (new window) shows how these five sub-industries were distributed across the larger industry. In order of importance telecommunication services accounted for nearly half of IT&T's total contribution to GDP, IT distribution about one third, and information technology services well under a quarter. Nearly all of the growth from 2000 to 2002 took place in IT distribution (see graph 98 - new window). Information technology services actually receded as a proportion of total economic output. Although the impact of IT distribution growth on those who work in this subindustry must be phenomenal, except for what one hears in the media and reads in the popular press, the economic impact for most Hong Kongers must give rise to a big yawn (see graph 99 - new window). Certainly many Hong Kong students eager to capture a portion of the industry's burgeoning wealth (see graph 113 - new window) were excited. So, besides being able to trade one's favorite pics, music, and email between friends nearly instantaneously, and to disturb everyone around you with telephone calls beamed in from anywhere at anytime from friends and strangers largely alien to the social situation into which they intrude, what has generated all the excitement?

Also, what has much, or any of this, to do with the English language? Looking at pictures, listening to music, reading email, and talking with one's friends in a society 97% dominated by usual languages other than English require zero command of English. Indeed, when it comes to IT distribution -- the only IT&T industry that is truly growing -- the story is little different: Hong Kongers distributing to other Hong Kongers (see Service at home, service abroad, and the difference it can make) and Hong Kongers servicing Hong Kong's re-export trade.
The external economy

Should we expect Hong Kong's external trade pattern in IT&T goods and services to exhibit important differences from Hong Kong's external trade pattern in other goods and services as a whole? Well, no, but then again, yes. In general, Hong Kong's role as an entrepot between the Chinese mainland and the rest of the world should not change dramatically when it comes to IT&T. Nevertheless, who produces and consumes IT&T products will impact the pattern of trade and as a result the need for the English language in both domestic and overseas trade.

In 2002 computers and computer related hardware made up nearly three quarters of Hong Kong's overseas trade in IT&T products. Telecommunication equipment constituted just over 25 percent, and computer software accounted for a mere 1.2 percent. (See graph 111 - new window). Although we find a general pattern of growth in both the import and re-export of IT&T products, the overall pattern is higher and more consistent growth with the Chinese mainland. With the exception of 2000, for which a sudden additional burst of growth was recorded, Hong Kong imports from the Chinese mainland grew steadily. (See graph 110a - new window.) In contrast, Hong Kong imports from other countries, although generally higher at the end of the period, were erratic, reflecting what appears to be a temporary falling out after the transfer of Hong Kong sovereignty from London to Beijing in 1997. Imports from the mainland, although less than those from other countries, made up about a third of all IT&T products imported. Re-exports to the Chinese mainland rose steadily, outperforming re-exports to other countries considerably. (See graph 110b - new window.) In 2002 re-exports to the Chinese mainland were easily more than double what they were when sovereignty was transferred. In contrast re-exports to all other areas of the world increased by only about 37 percent.3 Moreover, re-exports to the Chinese mainland constituted more than 40 percent of all Hong Kong IT&T re-exports.4 Looking only at computer and computer-related hardware, re-exports to the Chinese mainland and Singapore accounted for more than 50 percent of all re-exports.5 Comparing Hong Kong's IT&T re-export trade with all other re-export trade between the years 1997 and 2002 is even more revealing. Between 1997 and 2002 the value of Hong Kong's re-export merchandise trade increased by 14.9 percent, while the value of this same trade to the Chinese mainland increased by 28.8 percent (see graph 49c - new window).6, 7 During this period the total value of IT&T re-exports increased by 73.8 percent, and the value of IT&T re-exports to the mainland increased by 174.5 percent (see graph 110b - new window).8 Thus, not only was re-export trade with the Chinese mainland growing faster than re-export trade in general, but re-export trade in IT&T accelerated that disparity. May we not conclude from this that Hong Kong's IT&T re-export trade is reducing the need for the English language, rather than increasing? Not just yet!9

The external and domestic economies juxtaposed

Graphs 104 and 106 (new windows) reflect Hong Kong's overseas trade in IT&T as it affects the local economy. The green and purple lines in graph 104 (new window) are both similar and different for several reasons. Firstly, both reflect only goods or goods and services trade that are imported. Secondly, whereas the green line compares only merchandise goods, the purple line compares merchandise goods with both goods and services. Thirdly, whereas the green line compares IT&T retained imports (goods manufactured outside of Hong Kong but consumed in Hong Kong) with all imported and retained merchandise, the purple line compares all IT&T imported goods with all imported goods and services. Finally, both lines compare Hong Kong IT&T merchandise imports with all other Hong Kong goods or goods and services imports. Because the purple line utilises a larger base -- both goods and services, as opposed to only goods -- for comparison, one would expect it to lie below the green line in a fairly uniform manner. As this is not the case, there is important need for reflection. Between 1997 and 2002 we observe an overall rise in IT&T products both as a proportion of retained imports (green line) and as a proportion of total imported goods and services (purple line). During the years 2000 and 2001, however, there was a sudden surge in the value of imported IT&T merchandise goods retained for either consumption or investment -- nearly 20% in 2001. Thus, between 2000 and 2001 surely someone in Hong Kong besides traders had good reason to be excited.

Like the green and purple lines in graph 104 (new window), the green and blue lines in graph 106 (new window) are both similar and different in several respects. Nevertheless, an entirely different story is told. Firstly, both lines reflect only goods or goods and services that are exported. Secondly, whereas the green line compares only merchandise goods, the blue line compares merchandise goods with both goods and services. Thirdly, where as the green line compares IT&T domestic exports (merchandise manufactured in Hong Kong and sold abroad) with all domestic exports, the blue line compares all IT&T exports with all goods and services exports. Finally, both lines compare Hong Kong IT&T merchandise exports with all other Hong Kong goods, or goods and service exports. What we observe is very telling. Although Hong Kong did manufacture a portion of what it sold overseas (green line) the portion is both small and not growing, this despite the much larger and ever growing role that IT&T merchandise play in Hong Kong's overall export picture (blue line).

In summary, growth in Hong Kong IT&T has meant increasing consumption and trade, perhaps even enhanced productivity as a result of that consumption, but little contribution with regard to product innovation and manufacture of IT&T products. Insofar as Hong Kong spends so much on tertiary education and places so much emphasis on IT&T in the media, these results are very disappointing. So, let us take a closer look, and see where all the hype is coming from.


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The microeconomic landscape


Placing manufacturing and the installation and maintenance of IT&T products aside let us concentrate on the big three subindustries of Hong Kong's IT&T industrial grouping -- namely, telecommunication services, information technology services, and last but by no means least, IT distribution. Graphs 100 and 101a (new windows) compare the proportional contribution of each of these industries to Hong Kong's GDP with their proportional contribution to Hong Kong's employed work force in 2002.

Telecommunication services


Whereas telecommunication services accounted for nearly half of IT&T's contribution to GDP in 2002 (graph 100 - new window), these same services employed only about a quarter of IT&Ts total labor force (graph 101a - new window), and ranked third among Hong Kong's big three IT&T industries in terms of remuneration to workers (see graph 101b - new window). In contrast, telecommunication services profits in 2002 were the highest among IT&T's big three industries and more than double those of the next best performing industry (see graph 102a - new window). What is driving the telecommunication services industry is best captured in graph 102b (new window), where it soon becomes obvious that Hong Kong big money is serving itself at the expense of the Hong Kong general public. In short, big money goes in (graph 102b - new window), big money comes out (graph 102a - new window), big money points to improved overall economic performance (graph 100 - new window), and high Hong Kong government officials ensure themselves still another year of extraordinary personal income.

In the end Hong Kong citizens are left holding their foolish technological and international pride in their hands or around their necks in the form of more technical gadgetry that likely deteriorates just as much as it contributes to an overall better public environment.10 Accordingly, it is not big money and high-level government that commutes to and from work and leisure activity in crowded buses and mass-transit railway cars where mobile telephony reigns in total anarchy. On the other hand, it is big money and high-level government that is quick to promote expansion of both forms of transportation, so as to remove traffic congestion and make it easier for themselves to get from one penthouse to the next in their chauffeured limousines.

Once again, what does any of this have to do with the English language? It is the same story told over and over. Those who use this gadgetry most are native Hong Kongers communicating with other native Hong Kongers in Cantonese. In contrast, a small minority of wealthy Hong Kongers educate their children in prestigious private Hong Kong or overseas schools and universities, so that they might one day be able to speak English well enough to negotiate the importation of even more gadgetry in the name of economic progress and international competition. In the end technology, like most things in life, can be productively used or abused. Anarchy is not freedom!

Information technology services

Before moving onto IT distribution, the truly virulent sector of Hong Kong's IT&T growth sector (see graph 98), let us take a look at Hong Kong's IT&T complement to telecommunication services -- namely, information technology services. IT services include that one area of IT&T industrial development that has the potential to contribute most to overall economic productivity, for it is in this category of economic activity where new software is produced, and new and old software are customized and recombined to meet the specific organizational needs of each business, government agency, and academic department.

In graph 100 (new window) we observe that IT services' direct contribution to Hong Kong's gross domestic product was under 15 percent of Hong Kong's IT&T total in 2002; indeed, IT services were the lowest contributor among Hong Kong's big three IT&T industries!11 Although this potentially more productive subindustry employed nearly as many workers as the rapacious telecommunication services industry (graph 101a - new window), it demonstrated only little or negative growth in output (graph 98 - new window).12 Employment figures for 2002 were somewhat higher than those for 2000, but new industry hires amounted to an annual average of under one half of one percent.13 Though better paid than telecommunication services workers (graph 101b - new window), IT services' total contribution to Hong Kong workers' incomes was the lowest among Hong Hong's three principal IT&T subindustries (graph 101c - new window). This overall scenario reflects well, but with better detail, what we previously observed with regard to Hong Kong IT&T's domestic exports (graph 106 - new window). In short, if Hong Kongers were truly innovative at home, they could be exporting that innovation overseas. The amount of capital earned for each Hong Kong dollar paid to IT service workers was the lowest of all five subindustries (graph 103 - new window)! Just think how much better off Hong Kong would be, if more capital were invested in this critical industry!

Insofar as most software development in the world probably uses at least some form of English as its base, this tiny, vital, but neglected industry is one of the best candidates for secondary and tertiary school graduates with a solid foundation in the English language. Nevertheless, as an army of innovation and industrial networking this industry accounts for only 0.61 percent of Hong Kong's entire work force.14

Information technology and telecommunication industrial distribution15

So what are Hong Kongers truly good at, if not providing other peoples' innovation to others. Indeed, of Hong Kong's five IT&T subindustries IT&T distribution is the only industry that demonstrated recent significant economic growth. In 2000 IT&T distribution's net contribution to Hong Kong's GDP was 0.8%; by 2002 it was contributing nearly double that amount at 1.4% (graph 98 - new window). Although barely noticed in most Hong Kongers pocketbooks, for those working in and around IT&T as a whole, things were truly happening. Indeed, not only did IT&T distribution account for a full third of IT&T's total contribution to Hong Kong's GDP, but it also captured more than one third of IT&T's total employment.16, 17 Moreover, as a small user of capital in 2002 (graph 102b - new window), it was a very large earner (graph 102a - new window). Unlike their telecommunication services counterparts IT&T distribution entrepreneurs also appear to have shared their success with their workers (graph 103 - new window), who in turn received on average the highest wages of all IT&T sub-industries (graph 101b - new window). In short, for an economy that prides itself, however falsely, in its individual and economic freedoms and international reputation, IT&T distribution was on spot.18
 
Of course, making this euphoria relevant to Hong Kong's universal English language requirement is an entirely different matter for two very good reasons: one, half of Hong Kong's external trade in IT&T products is with the Chinese mainland, where the English language is of little use; and two, domestic distribution caters to a population that on any given day is nearly 90% native in the Cantonese language (see graph 52a (new window) and Hong Kong's tourist industry). Thus, we have returned to ground zero (new window), and perhaps worse. Employment in IT&T distribution actually fell by 3.4% between 2000 and 2002. Then too, less than 1% of all Hong Kong workers worked in this obviously highly touted industry.19, 20


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IT&T in government, business, and education
Distribution of information technology workers government and industry

Having examined Hong Kong's IT&T industry as an industry unto itself, as well as a component of Hong Kong's macroeconomy, let us now see how IT&T workers are distributed across Hong Kong's business and government sectors. In graph 114b (new window) we discover that about 70% of all information technology workers are found in industries where analytical, clerical, and sales people are likely to be abundant, including finance, insurance, real estate, business services, and software vending, as well as the wholesale, retail, and import and export trades. Over 10% of IT workers are also found among the community, social, and personal service industries. Ironically, but perhaps not surprisingly, one of the biggest advocates of information technology demonstrates a clear shortfall in the number of IT workers that it employs. In 2002 the Hong Kong government accounted for about 8.1 percent of all Hong Kong workers (graph 108c - new window), but it hosted only 3.9 percent of Hong Kong's entire IT work force (graphs 108b and 114b - new windows).21 This probable shortcoming is particularly alarming, when one compares it with what has happened in the community, social, and personal service industries during the past decade (graph 114a - new window). Between 1993 and 2002 the number of IT workers employed in the community, social, and personal service industries more than tripled with an average annual growth rate of 37.5 percent! In contrast, the number of IT workers in government increased at an average annual rate of only 8.2%, well below the overall average annual rate of increase for the entire IT&T industry.22

Is government practicing what it preaches? Hardly. Does government suffer from a handicap? Most certainly. It is a highly paid advertising puppet of Hong Kong big business with a vastly constrained budget.23
Government expenditure on IT education

In so far as teachers make up nearly one third of the Hong Kong government's total work force the government's below market performance is difficult to commend.24 Graphs 112a and 112b (new windows) suggest that the government is going all out in providing Hong Kong children with the IT training they will need for eventual entry into an information-based society. Surely some Hong Kong students will receive that training, many others will not (See Dawn or dusk in the Age of Information). Moreover, where the money is actually going is difficult to say; Hong Kong's secondary computer science teachers are among Hong Kong's worst qualified (table 6 - new window). Finally, even if Hong Kong children are the largest beneficiaries of government money spent on IT education and training as graph 112b (new window) suggests, what about the rest of government and its overall role in serving the people of Hong Kong? Education is not only area of government service.

On the one hand, Hong Kongers can sympathize with their government, because its educational budget by industrially developed world standards is truly inferior (graph 18 - new window); on the other hand, as the mouth piece of Hong Kong big business and the recipient of extraordinary salaries (graph 79 - new window) Hong Kong government, and the Education and Manpower Bureau in particular, are hardly innocent bystanders in what transpires. Required, of course, is higher taxes on those who can afford to pay them (graph 36c - new window) and across the board salary cuts for those who might otherwise benefit from them. Obviously, neither will occur, so long as those in power continue to cater to the needs of those who feed them, rather than the people whom they are suppose to serve.

Conclusion

Truly, achieving democracy in Hong Kong will require much more than standing up to Beijing and showing the world you care on world television. Certainly it will require more than attracting increased tourist revenue (see Throwing good money after bad - pdf document 56KB) and new overseas investment (graph 43c - new window).

In order to achieve democracy in Hong Kong stripping away the many facades behind which the people of Hong Kong wrongly hide (see Hong Kong's Window Dressers - pdf document 40KB) in an effort to protect what can be easily labelled foolish international pride (see Global aspirations and healthful perspiration - pdf document 52KB) and a vain celebration of individual freedoms commercially exploited by Hong Kong's wealthy elite. Working together means putting aside one's group identity in favour of one's community (see The Swimmer, Part II - pdf document 24KB). It means placing one's family on an equal footing with one's neighbors (see Global aspirations and healthful perspiration - pdf document 52KB). Moreover, it requires setting aside envious desires, presumptuous airs, and debilitating feelings of inferiority. Finally, filling one's pockets with the means to take flight should political necessity command and spending one's last dime, as if there were no tomorrow, may contribute to the local economy, but these do little or nothing to insure a secure political future. Living in a foreign culture -- no matter's whose culture it might be -- is not an easy task (See Rebound? - pdf document 56KB).

What Hong Kong's information society and Hong Kong's UEL requirement share in common are the same limited and exploitative governmental bureaucracy that makes Hong Kong education so deplorable (graph 78 - new window). What they also share in common are the same vain hopes, misguided aspirations, and false sense of community encouraged and exploited by Hong Kong's self-serving elite.

Indeed, false pride and envy appear to be Hong Kongers two worst enemies in overcoming the unbridled commercial, intellectual, and political arrogance of Hong Kong's industrial and financial elite and misguided universal English language requirement.


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1 Hong Kong Government. Census and Statistics Department. Information Technology and Telecommunications Statistics Section. 2003. Hong Kong as an Information Society. Chapter 4 - Operating Characteristics of the Information Technology and Telecommunications Sector. Introduction. Section 4.2 (text)

2 Hong Kong's tourist industry (new window) makes up about 5% of Hong Kong's gross domestic product. (text)


3 IT&T re-exports to all other areas of the world in 1997 were HK$74.3 billion. In 2002 they were HK$101.5 billion. (101.5 - 74.3)/74.3 = 0.367 = 36.7%. (text)

4 In 2002 re-exports to the Chinese mainland and all other areas of the world constituted HK$75.3 billion and HK$101.5 billion, respectively. Thus, 75.3/(75.3 + 101.5) = 0.426 = 42.6%. (text)

5 In 2002 re-exports in computer and computer-related hardware amounted to HK$131.0 billion. Re-exports in this hardware to the Chinese mainland and Singapore were HK$60,956 million and HK$7,004 million, respectively. (60,956 + 7,004)/131,006 = 0.519 = 51.9%. (text)

6 In 1997 Hong Kong's total re-export trade amounted to HK$1,244.5 billion. In 2002 this total came to HK$
1,429.6 billion -- a 14.9 percent increase. (1,429.6 - 1,244.5)/1,244.5 = 0.149 = 14.9%. Source: Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department. Hong Kong in Figures. External trade. Merchandise trade by main country and territory. EARTH's table available on request. (text)

7 In 1997 Hong Kong's re-export trade with the Chinese mainland amounted to HK$443.9 billion. In 2002 it came to HK$571.9 billion -- a 28.8 percent increase. (571.9 - 443.9)/443.9 = 0.288 = 28.8%.
Source: Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department. Hong Kong in Figures. External trade. Merchandise trade by main country and territory. EARTH's table available on request. (text)

8 In 1997 total IT&T exports amount to HK$101,695 million. By 2002 this total had reached HK$176,775 million -- a 73.8 percent increase. (176,775 - 101,695) - 101,695 = 0.738 = 73.8 percent. IT&T re-exports to the mainland during this same period were HK$24,422 and HK$75,276 -- a 174.5 percent increase. (75,276 - 24,422)/24,422 = 1.745 = 174.5 percent. Source: Hong Kong Government. Census and Statistics Department. Information Technology and Telecommunications Statistics Section. 2003. Hong Kong as an Information Society. Chapter 6 Imports and Exports of Computer Products and Telecommunications Equipment. Table 6.1 Imports by main supplier and exports by main destination of computer hardware, pp. 92-93. Table 6.2 Imports by main supplier and exports by main destination of computer software, p. 95. Table 6.3 Imports by main supplier and exports by main destination of telecommunications equipment, pp. 97-98. (text)

9 Just because the value of trade volume increases does not mean that the number of those engaged in trade also goes up. The quality of traded goods is constantly upgraded and as a result the total value of goods also increases. Macroeconomic factors such as price inflation and productivity improvements brought about IT&T itself, must also be taken into consideration. Thus, a more careful look at the labor market itself is warranted. (text)

10 Although there are many places in Hong Kong in which people are asked to turn off their mobile telephones, crowded public areas are not usually one of them. With no public guidance and only one partner to a mobile telephone conversation ever present, it is difficult for those who are disturbed by a particular conversation to control or modulate it. As one's own physical mobility in such circumstances is also constrained, one is left with the choice of either telling the disturbing individual to stop, calling someone on one's own mobile telephone, or drowning the incessant or noisy talker out with a set of headphones and one's favorite music or radio station. In the first instance, one risks being told to shut up oneself; in the second one is likely to create a similar situation for someone else at another location at which one is not present when the call is made; and in the third one alienates oneself from others, thus creating a more indifferent social environment and giving more reason for others and oneself to use a mobile telephone under the same or similar set of circumstances at still another time. In the end, what might appear to be a boon for the individual, becomes a public nuisance for the many, and an important source of profit to the few, who produce, promote, and sell the gadgetry that brings about the public nuisance.

So why does the Hong Kong government not intervene? Two quick explanations come to mind: one, it is unlikely that many people would pay much attention to a rule whose only real source of enforcement would be the public itself; and two, creating the public awareness necessary to empower the public to protect itself would risk chipping away at another important source of tax revenue and Hong Kong's world GDP per capita ranking. Although Hong Kongers often comply when asked
by ordinary citizens to follow posted rules, they often do not. Moreover, administrators are reluctant to perform their duties, when popular will opposes them. Thus, getting the general public to cooperate would mean public education, and the Hong Kong government simply will not provide it, so long as IT&T is the highest international priorities of its ruling elite. Does the public care? It is difficult to say, because no one seems have ever bothered to ask.

In the end, when it comes to Hong Kong's international window dressing, what can be better than hanging a mobile telephone around your next, strapping one to your waste, or holding it with both hands between your legs -- high-wired international prestige and contemporary, non-pecuniary social security rolled up into one! Only being able to give directions to a wayward tourist, who cannot find his way back to his ship, or a native English language teacher (NET), who barely knows how to say "Hello" in Cantonese can appear more cosmopolitan! (text)


11
In 2002 information technology services contributed less than 1% to Hong Kong's overall GDP measured at factor cost. As a percentage of IT&T's total 4.1% contribution to GDP, IT services contributed 14.3%. Figures for all five IT&T subindustries as a proportion of IT&T's total contribution to GDP were in descending order 47.6% (telecommunication services), 33.3% (information technology distribution), 14.3% (information technology services), 2.4% (manufacturing) and 2.4% (installation and maintenance). Source: Hong Kong Government. Census and Statistics Department. Information Technology and Telecommunications Statistics Section. 2003. Obtained on special request. EARTH's copy of corresponding table available as .xls or .pdf document on request. (text)

12 Ibid. In descending order of employment Hong Kong's IT&T sub-industries employed 26466 (IT distribution), 21243 (
Telecommunications services), 19071 (Information technology services), 3158 (Installation and maintenance), and 2980 (Manufacturing) workers, respectively. (text)

13 Ibid. In 2000 the industry employed 18,942 and in 2002 it employed 19,071 reflecting average annual employment growth of 0.34% -- less than 1/2 of one percent. (text)

14 In 2002 there were 3,126,400 people employed in Hong Kong. 19,071/3,126,400 = 0.0061 = 0.61 percent. Source: Census and Statistics Department. Hong Kong Statistics. Frequently Asked Statistics. Labour and employment. Number of Establishments, Persons Engaged and Vacancies (other than those in the Civil Service). Analysed by Industry Sector. [online document - EXCEL format] (18 June 2004). EARTH's copy available on request. (text)


15 An important, but perhaps little noticed error among readers, occurred when creating the graphs that accompany this section and other sections related to IT&T sub-industries. In effect, this subindustry is responsible not only for the distribution of information technology products, but also telecommunication products, such as mobile telephones. Thus, the more appropriate title is, as is indicated here, IT&T distribution, rather than IT distribution, as found elsewhere in numerous places under Data Collection. (text)

16 In 2002 IT distribution accounted for exactly 1/3 (33.3%) of IT&T's total contribution to Hong Kong's GDP.
Source: Hong Kong Government. Census and Statistics Department. Information Technology and Telecommunications Statistics Section. 2003. Obtained on special request. EARTH's copy of corresponding table available as .xls or .pdf document on request. (text)

17 In descending order as a proportion of total Hong Kong IT&T employment in 2002 the following ranking was obtained: IT distribution (36.3%),
Telecommunication services (29.1%), Information technology services (26.2%), Installation and maintenance (4.3%), and Manufacturing (4.1%). Source: Hong Kong Government. Census and Statistics Department. Information Technology and Telecommunications Statistics Section. 2003. Obtained on special request. EARTH's copy of corresponding table available as .xls or .pdf document on request. (text)

18 In 2002 Hong Kong's total volume of trade in goods and services exceed its own GDP by a multiple of 3. Total trade volume was recorded at HK$3,945,300 million and domestic gross domestic product at HK$1,318,743 million. Thus, 3.945/1.319 = 2.99 or approximately three. Source: Census and Statistics Department. Hong Kong Statistics. Frequently Asked Statistics. National income. Gross domestic product. GDP and its main expenditure components at constant (2000) market prices [online document - EXCEL format] (18 June 2004). EARTH's copy available on request. (text)

19 Ibid. In 2000 the number of persons engaged was 27,387. In 2002 there were only 26,466 workers employed in IT&T distribution. (26,466 - 27,387)/26,466 = - 0.034 = - 3.4 percent. (text)

20 Ibid. 26,466 workers /
3,126,400 workers = 0.0085 = 0.85 percent. Source: Census and Statistics Department. Hong Kong Statistics. Frequently Asked Statistics. Labour and employment. Number of Establishments, Persons Engaged and Vacancies (other than those in the Civil Service). Analysed by Industry Sector. [online document - EXCEL format] (18 June 2004). EARTH's copy available on request. (text)

21 All workers in this context refers to what the Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department takes the time to count. In 2003 nearly 25 percent of the Hong Kong work force was unaccounted for in statistics make available to the general public. See graph 109 (new window) entitled Hong Kong's missing workers for a more detailed explanation of this phenomenon. (text)

22 The number of IT workers employed by government in 1993 and 2002 was 1,417 and 2,460, respectively. (2,460 - 1,417)/1,417 = 0.736 = 73.6 percent. Dividing this figure by 9 obtains the average annual rate of growth. 0.736/9 = 0.082 = 8.2 percent. In contrast, the number of workers employed in the community, social, and personal service industries in 1993 and 2002 was 1,865 and 8,162, respectively. (8,162 - 1,865)/1,865 = 3.376 = 337.6 percent. Dividing this latter figure by 9 yields 0.375 = 37.5 percent. In 1993 there were 34,943 active Hong Kong IT workers; by 2002 there were 63,098. Performing the same math as above yields an overall increase of 80.6% for an average annual rate of 9.0% for the same period. (text)

23 For evidence of this with regard to Hong Kong's UEL requirement see Hong Kong's Window Dressers (pdf document - 40KB). For a colorful report see Language as Medium - An image for adults (new window). For a more factual overview see Today's investment is tomorrow's prosperity (new window). Other useful resources in this regard can be found in English: bridge or barrier? The political economy of the English language in East Asia (pdf document - 136KB) and Understanding the nature, cause, magnitude, and direction of English language attrition in Hong Kong society: Measurement and assessment (pdf document - 1MB research proposal) (text)

24 In 2001 the number of civil servants employed by the Hong Kong government is estimated to be 177,728.5.1 Dividing this number into the total number of teachers employed by the Hong Kong government in 2001 yields 0.323 or 32.3%.2 (text)

Teacher employment in Hong Kong public schools in 2001
Clicking on the highlighted areas provides a direct link to the appropriate data source. Each link opens to a new window.
Kindergarten
Nonprofit-making kindergartens
5,877
Primary
Goverment and government aided schools
21,268
Secondary
Government, government aided, and per capita grant schools
22,771

Temporary and supply teachers
3546.2
Tertiary Teaching faculty at UGC schools
6,879

Total
57,341.2
Note 1: The estimated number of civil servants were not obtained from annual data. As a result an average was taken for the entire year.
Note 2: This is a rough estimate used only to provide perspective. In general, it is not clear just who is and who is not employed by the government. For example, the faculty employed at Hong Kong's eight major universities are likely not considered government employees. Nevertheless, a very large portion of university teachers' salaries is paid for by the government through funding programs sponsored by the UGC.
Note 3: These are full-time equivalents, not the actual number of teachers.
Source for number of civil servants in 2001: Hong Kong Government Census and Statistics Department. Hong Kong Statistics Frequently Asked Statistics. Labour and employment. Number of civil servants and civil service vacancies. [online document - EXCEL format] (18 June 2004). EARTH's copy available on request.
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