The effect of British colonial rule was that "English became not only a lingua franca, but also an indicator of status." Au Pak-kuen, vice-president of the Hong Kong Professional Teachers 'Union, says candidly that even today, people with good English can gain easier entry to the civil service, and are preferred by private-sector employers. They enjoy higher salaries and rise to higher positions.
英國殖民的影響是，「英文不僅是一種溝通的語言，也是一種身份的表徵」，香港教育專業人員協會副會長區伯權坦承表示，一直到現在，英文好的人可以進政府機關，可以被民營企業優先聘雇，享高薪、升高職。