Public schools still primarily teach British English, but private language schools offering American English are growing in the former British colony.
Observers say American English is taking over across the world as the language of international business. The rise of American idiomatic expressions and the American accent in other areas is often ascribed to the world's increased exposure to American culture, especially through movies, videos, computer games and the Internet.
Language teachers in Hong Kong say wealthy Chinese mainlanders also help fuel the demand, crossing into Hong Kong for a wider choice of educational opportunities.
But in the streets of Hong Kong, traditional British English still prevails.
"We can understand both, but for what we speak, we speak [with] the British accent," said one local woman.
"The British is better I think," commented a local man.
Meanwhile, as young people decide which style to study, a growing number want to learn American English.
最新
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25