RIOT REPORT: 2
and conditions of work.
Under the heading of "Social Con-
ditions" the report discusses housing, environment both
physical and social, education and community spirit.
There
is a section entitled "The Special Problem of Youth".
Dealing with matters more directly and obviously related
to the disturbances, the report discusses public attitudes
towards Government and particularly towards the Police.
The Commission is of the opinion that among a wide
section of Hong Kong's population, little is known of the
Government's achievements in many fields and that there was
much misunderstanding of the Government's aims. It suggests
that channels of every kind should be opened and developed,
so that the lines of communication between Government and
people are as many and varied as possible.
It also suggests that "there should be a greater
decentralisation of administration with a view to providing
a range of simple services at the local level in order to
build up community spirit and improve the public's access to
Government" and that local representation on advisory, con-
sultative or executive bodies should be further developed.
The report suggests that more youth services should be
provided, and that Hong Kong must make its "major and most
significant investment" in the young people of today.
In reviewing the events in connection with the ferry
company's application for a fare increase, the Commission
found that it was "clear that the Transport Advisory Committee
and the man in the street were not seeking to answer the same
question" and that "the man in the street was being urged
to manifest hostility to any transport price increases,
irrespective of the terms of the franchise, whilst the
Committee was considering the question of whether the terms
of the franchise justified an increase".
In other words,
m.f.