- Contact:Media Affairs Center, Miaoli County
- Tel: 037-559827
Miaoli County Government Press Release:2021/09/10
The Miaoli County Government is committed to promoting Hakka affairs. In 2020, Hakka language was promoted to common language status by the Hakka Affairs Council with great onward results. In addition to the government, 12 township offices were awarded with various achievements. The “Talking Hakka to Celebrate in Miaoli” press conference was held by the government on September 10th, 2021. Magistrate Hsu, Yao-chang and Director of the Hakka Affairs Council Yang, Chang-chen presented the awards to the city and township offices, outstanding individuals and township mayors who passed the Certification of Hakka Language Proficiency. It is hoped that more people will take part in future and continue making Miaoli a good example of speaking Hakka.
The Hakka population is estimated to be around 65% in Miaoli County. According to Lin, Yen-Fu, Director-General of the Miaoli International Culture and Tourism Bureau, the Miaoli County Government won the "Excellent" Award in the promotion of Hakka as a common language by the Hakka Affairs Council in 2020. Sanyi Township, Touwu Township, Gongguan Township, Zaociao Township and Miaoli City also won "Excellent" Awards. Nanzhuang Township, Sihu Township, Dahu Township, Zhoulan Township, Shitan Township, Sanwan Township and Toufen City were awarded with "Merit" Awards. Hsieh, Mei-tao, the Principal of Tongluo Elementary School, won the "Excellent" Award as an individual in promoting Hakka language teaching. In addition, Touwu Township Mayor Hsu, Hsin-rong and Sanyi Township Mayor Lu, Ming-chung passed the elementary level Certification of Hakka Language Proficiency. Gongguan Township Mayor Hseng, Mei-lu and Nanzhuang Township Luo, Chun-lian passed the intermediate level, and Dahu Township Hu, Nian-mei passed the upper-intermediate level.
On September 10th, the award ceremony started with an excellent performance of “Speaking Hakka” by students in Tongluo Elementary School. Magistrate Hsu, Yao-chang and Director of the Hakka Affairs Council Yang, Chang-chen presented the awards to the city and township offices. Miaoli County councilors, including Li, Huan-chiang, Sun, Su-er, Hsu, Chiao-ching, Chen, Kuang-hsuan, Lin, Pao-chu, Director Zheng, Ju-ran, and Secretary Yu, Wen-chung, attended the ceremony.
Magistrate Hsu stated that 18 townships in Miaoli County are all key areas for the development of Hakka culture. It is obligatory to implement Hakka Basic Law and promote Hakka affairs. Although there is no Hakka Affairs Bureau in the Miaoli County Government, all bureaus and departments are fully committed to promoting Hakka affairs. As a result, the proportion of public-school teachers who passed the Certification of Hakka Language Proficiency and the estimated coverage rate of 85% for students in elementary schools who study Hakka language are both first place in the country. Thanks to the affirmation and support of the Hakka Affairs Council the government and 12 township offices were awarded for their promotion of Hakka as a common language. It is also impressive that Zhoulan Township and Nanzhuang Township won awards for the first time.
Yang, Chang-chen pointed out that the policy and concept that the Hakka Affairs Council uses to promote Hakka language is based on the community language learning applied in foreign countries to maintain a minority language. Immersive Hakka language learning is prioritized to pass on our language and culture to the next generation. There is still room for improvement even though Miaoli County tops the rankings in promoting the Hakka language. It is hoped that the pass rate of the Certification of Hakka Language Proficiency for teachers will increased. Immersive Hakka language learning in schools is considered one of the main points that the Hakka Affairs Council plans to promote; therefore, teachers are encouraged to teach Hakka where possible so they become accustomed to speaking Hakka among each other as a means of communication. Moreover, it is hoped that the Central Government will work with the Miaoli County Government to promote Hakka language. It is also thanks to Magistrate Hsu that Miaoli County has risen through the ranks as a genuine Hakka County.