Hong Kong loses to Singapore in English speaking skills

English skills are 'significantly below' peers.

According to Education First's English Proficiency Index (EF EPI), Hong Kong’s English skills fall significantly below those of other territories in East Asia where English is an official language.

Here's more from EF EPI:

In a 2011 survey, more adults professed to speaking fluent Mandarin than English. Hong Kong has, in the past decade, struggled with how to prioritize foreign language instructional time in schools. English and Mandarin are both foreign languages to most Hong Kong natives.

The existence of two important languages does not necessarily lead to lower English proficiency, but large amounts of time must be devoted to these subjects if they are to be taught to a high level.

Malaysia and Singapore, the highest proficiency countries in Asia, are examples of how English can be used to bridge linguistic divides between different communities within the same country.

In addition to ethnic Malays, both countries have large Chinese and Indian communities, each with its own traditions and language.

English has long been a required subject for all pupils starting in primary school, where it is often the medium of instruction. English proficiency is tested at the end of primary school and again at the end of secondary school.

In these countries, English is valued as a shared language across communities, not owned by any one of the three, as well as being an international medium of communication.

In Asia as a whole, recent high school graduates speak the best English. English proficiency then declines steadily with age.

The skills of 18- and 19-year-olds are likely a result of the increased emphasis on English learning among children, and added teaching hours in public schools.

Unfortunately, adults across Asia are not improving their English in the same way European adults are through their professional lives. This is not the case in every country in Asia, however.