Guangdong residents demonstrate for Cantonese

Provincial officials in defence of Cantonese

Guangzhou residents are taking the initiative to protect their mother tongue, with a call for people to gather next Sunday and recite Cantonese - a subtle form of protest - winning widespread support.


Against this background, top provincial leaders started a two-day meeting yesterday to discuss "cultural development in Guangdong", a propaganda department official said.

It's a development that underlines the significance of regional tensions on the mainland and anger at edicts from Beijing seen to undermine local culture.

The official said the government would release a policy outline and new regulations afterwards to boost "Cantonese cultural heritage".

The authorities also plan to hold a public forum, the official said, describing it as "one of the hottest topics that have grabbed our leaders' attention".