Hui Kuok, chair of Shangri-La Hotels, urged Hong Kong to prioritize Mandarin in education to strengthen ties with mainland China. Speaking at HSBC’s Global Investment Summit, she argued that revamping the public education system to use Putonghua as the primary language would enhance the territory’s economic competitiveness. Kuok emphasized that the next generation must align more closely with China’s linguistic and cultural framework, suggesting partnerships with top Chinese schools to mirror international school models. $630mn of Shangri-La’s 2025 revenue came from mainland China, underscoring the economic stakes. Jardine Matheson’s Lincoln Pan highlighted cultural challenges, attributing resistance to colonial legacies and decades of seeking approval from Beijing.