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To Singapore banks keen on providing financial services in China, the phrase “the early bird catches the worm” has significant meaning. In the imminent second wave of China's economic development, foreign direct investment will no longer dominate as portfolio investment will swamp China to provide services for the Chinese middle-class in personal investment, fund management and financing for business start-ups. China is gradually putting its financial house in order and the growing importance of the Chinese economy in the global economy is increasingly clear to all. But if Singaporeans fail to leverage on the advantages that it enjoys over others in tapping the Chinese market, they are likely to find themselves in an awkward position where they can see the hugh economic pie but are not able to get a share of it. Singapore's private banking professionals are, of course, well-equipped to compete and make inroads into China. A key concern, however, is to catch up by nurturing banking experts who are proficient in the Chinese language. I have seen in Hong Kong many top Chinese executives in international banks who are trained in Europe or the US. They are truly conversant with the international rules of the game and are familiar with their homeland as well. Financial institutions in Singapore can consider attracting such talent. But in the long run, we still need to cultivate our very own bilingual financial experts. More importantly, there is a need to correct the prejudice against the Chinese language that exists in this industry. Because of my Chinese-educated background and ability to speak Mandarin, I used to be “looked down on” by colleagues at the bank or fellow economists at the university. They regarded me as “old-fashioned” and behind the times. Even now, there are people who have mistaken views about the Chinese-educated. Having been working and living in an environment dominated by the English language, my chinese-educated background is often “belittled” either consciously or subconsciously by colleagues or people in the same profession. Some call me a “Chinaman” in jest. We should feel a sense of urgency in changing the mentality and narrow view of these people who stand to lose eventually if they continue to be biased against the Chinese language. Never mind the unnecessary pressure from my contemporaries. I've never felt ashamed of using my mother tongue to express my views in an English-speaking environment. This is because I have absolute confidence and I value Chinese culture. And it is precisely because I've been trying hard to find opportunities to speak Mandarin that today I'm able to express my thoughts in fluent Mandarin. One will lose one's command of any language, including the mother tongue, if one does not practise it over a long period of time. People who have just begun learning Mandarin in the hope of benefiting from the booming Chinese economy but have never made any serious effort to understand the Chinese culture should, I think, not view the Chinese language just from a utilitarian viewpoint. Otherwise, they will not be able to face up to or withstand the impact arising from a rapidly-growing Chinese economy. They will also not be able to deal with the Chinese on an equal footing. Efforts must be made to raise the status of the Chinese language here. Government leaders, civil servants and professionals should set an example to correct the long-standing prejudice. This will help change the tendency of some Singaporeans to reject the mother tongue and make them realise that the government's firm stand on the teaching of the mother tongue is absolutely correct and far-sighted. At a seminar organised by the Singapore Stock Exchange in March this year, I made a casual remark that many Malay Singaporeans did not seem to speak good Malay nowadays. The audience reacted with surprise and incomprehension. But when I asked: “How many Chinese here can speak Mandarin fluently?” the participants fell silent. I also find it inconceivable that many friends and relatives have been urging me to get more exposure on English-language TV channels. They feel that Chinese-language channels and newspapers are of a lower standard. More than 10 years ago, my bank colleagues felt that going out carrying a paper bag printed with the Chinese name of a Chinatown shop was “rather embarrassing”. In fact, some Chinese here still cling on to the prejudice that “the Chinese language is always a class below the English language”. They can never get rid of the erroneous image of the embarrassment associated with the paper bag. It is easy to deduce that they lack a good understanding of how hard it was for their ancestors to seek a livelihood in Singapore. They do not see the significance of the mother tongue and Chinese culture does not strike a chord with them. What is even more crucial is that they do not have enough confidence in Singapore's unique advantage of being at the crossroads of Eastern and Western cultures. (The writer is Head, Central Banking Policies Research Unit and ASEAN Economies Monitoring Unit at the NTU. He is also a member of the Resource Panel, Chinese newspapers, SPH. Translated by Yap Gee Poh.)
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“早起的鸟儿有虫吃”这句话，对有意到中国提供金融服务的新加坡银行界来讲，有很现实的意义。在中国第二轮经济发展来临的浪头中，未来将不再是外国直接投资唱“独角戏”，随之而来的将会是财券投资纷纷涌入中国，为中国中产阶级提供个人投资、理财服务和创业基金的融资。 此刻，中国正在逐渐整顿金融秩序，随中国经济在世界经济版块的重要性日益明显，如果新加坡人无法掌握进军中国市场的有利条件，极可能出现“看得到却吃不到”中国金融市场大蛋糕的窘境。 新加坡的私人银行业务专才当然有足够竞争条件在中国大展拳脚，然而培养银行界通晓华语的专才，却是我们必须迎头赶上的关键。我在香港看到不少在跨国银行高层服务的管理人员是从欧美学成归来的中国人，他们是真正懂得国际游戏规则，又了解自己故土的人。新加坡的金融机构可以选择吸引一些这样的人才，但长期还是需要培养自己的金融双语精英。 当然，更重要的是，先要改变这个行业对待华文的偏颇心态。 过去我因为会讲华语和读华校的背景，时常被银行的同事或者大学的同行“看不起”；他们认为我老“土”，不识时务。时至今日，一些人还持有对受华文教育者的错误看法。 长期处在英文主导的工作和生活环境中，我的华文教育背景甚至往往被同事同行有意无意地“轻视”，一些人戏称我为“Chinaman”（中国佬）。然而，我们应该着急的反而是如何改变这些人的心态和狭隘观念；他们停留在歧视华文的错误水平上，最终将吃大亏。 相对于同侪施加的无谓压力，在讲英语的大环境中以母语表达自己的想法，我从来不觉得丢脸，因为我有自信，我更珍视中华文化的价值。也正是因为我一直努力的寻找能够讲华语的机会，今天才能以华语流利表达我的所思所想。任何语文，包括母语，就是学了久而不用亦是会荒废的。 我认为那些“半路出家”，顺应中国起飞的趋势为商业利益学习华语，却从来不努力理解中华文化的人，如果不好好调整看待华文的功利角度，势必无法面对和抵挡将来中国经济快速发展后所产生的冲击，从而无法和中国人“平行地”打交道。 华文在新加坡的地位肯定要大力提升。如何改变一部分新加坡人对母语的排斥，以让他们了解政府对母语教育的坚持是绝对正确且有远见的，为政者、公务员、专业人士必须以身作则，纠正看待华文的错误包袱。 今年3月，我曾经在一个证券交易所主办的研讨会上不经意谈起，现在有许多本地马来人不太会讲马来话，当时在场的听众纷纷表示惊奇和不理解。然而当我提出“在座华人有多少个能很好地以华语表达？”时，全场顿时鸦雀无声。 一个令人感到不可思议的现况是，一些亲朋好友总是好心“劝”我应该多在英文电视频道露面，因为他们认为中文台和华文报档次太低。 10多年前，我在银行界工作的同事会觉得拎着印有牛车水商店中文店名的袋子上街“很见不得人”，其实到了今天，一些本地华人还是不愿改变“华文总是低英文一个档次”的偏见；在他们心中，永远挥不去牛车水纸袋既可悲又难堪的错误阴影。其中不难推测的是他们对自己先辈到新加坡求生活的艰辛历史缺乏理解，对母语的重要性无法认同，对中华文化没有共鸣，更关键的是对新加坡中西文化交融的特有优质信心不足！ ·作者是南大中央银行政策研究部主任、南大亚细安经济研究部主任、华文报咨询团成员
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