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Codemixing of Cantonese Chinese and English is a common speech behaviour used by bilingual people in Hong Kong. Though codemixing is repeatedly criticised as a cause of the decline of students' language competence, there is little hard evidence to indicate its detrimental effects. This study examines the use of mixed code in the context of the home setting, school setting and leisure activities. The data are complied from a questionnaire completed by 160 Hong Kong teachers and students. Subjects recorded their awareness of their frequency and purposes of using a mixed code communication style. Results showed that codemixing was frequently used by the subjects. Findings suggested that codemixing performed certain communicative functions and was used for various practical purposes. Codemixing appears to be a customary component of a bilingual society. No matter whether people dislike or prefer it, codemixing continues to exist and satisfy bilingual speakers' communicative needs. Administrative sanctions may not be effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One major change in Hong Kong after 1997 was the replacement of English as the medium of instruction in many secondary schools. Employing the data on the distribution of the approved English-medium schools and taking into account relevant theoretical perspectives, this paper examines the wisdom and the feasibility of the policy change. The analysis shows that the change runs counter to the principle of bilingual education and does not conform to the wishes of a society for more competent bilinguals of Chinese and English. Code-mixing exists everywhere as a natural phenomenon of a bilingual society. No hard evidence has been found to blame mixed code as the cause in the declining English proficiency. Acknowledging that any definitive conclusions might be premature, it would appear that this selection of English medium schools was not well planned and has eroded the principle of equal opportunity in bilingual education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]