AT FIRST glance the status of English in Hongkong appears as a traditional legacy of colonialism. English is the language of laws and government documents, of schools and universities, of place and street names, of courts and councils. A variety of subtle inducements, and some not so subtle, encourage intercourse with Britain for educational, legal and business purposes, and the language of such intercourse is English. But at the end of June that will all be over. Hongkong will be returned to Chinese sovereignty and the advantages of English will disappear. What next?