S.C.M. POST, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 1969
Letters to the Editor
Democratic representation
Sir,
moro
general Y C. YEN, Lecturer
on
We the undersigned Industrial disputes and riots. GRAHAM RICHES, Lecturer in write to appeal for support Indications are that unless Social Works, HKU, to the fairmindedness of the the system is made
VINCENT SHEPHERD, Lecturer British people who govern responsive to the needs and
in Law, HKU. amongst us but
whom we aspirations of the have no democratic repre- public discontent will sentation. The British Crown press itself in social disrup- DAVID CHANEY, Lecturer Colony of Hongkong is a tions of increasing frequency remnant of a vanishing im- and intensity. perial past. At present the
ex-
re-
Education, CUHK,
in
CHI,
Sociology, HKU. CHESTER Chow TIEN
educationalist. MINCIO FON, Director Trans- lation & Publication Centre. L. Hu, elected HENRY H.
Urban Councillor.
MA
MAN ΕΛΙ, Executive Secretary, Una.
system of government is run The Hongkong government by expatriate civil servants rules in the name of the Bri- whose appointment and tish people. The structure and tenure of office are deter- quality of this government, mined by factors not strictly its actions and inactions are D. Y. LEE, Head of the De- relevant
taken to to the Hongkong consequently
partment of History, United situation. We have no de- flect your willingnes to tole- College, CUHK. mocratic government in the rate something in Hongkong sense that it does not govern which would not be tolerated through institutions com- in democratic Britain, Unless JEAN M. ROBERTSON, Profes-
sor of Social Work, HKU. prised of representatives this existing obsolete system freely elected by the people, of government is thoroughly TANG CHAI ON, Chairman
the
Rural present
Committee The unfortunate result isˆan re-examined
of Ha ever widening gap between status quo
Tsun, New Territories. wil increasingly those now directing govern- deteriorate to the detriment CLEMENT YIU, businessinan, ment and the general public of the welfare of the local who feel that they have no population and the reputation privileges or rights but only of the British government
and people.
dulics.
The present situation in
Sophisticated and far Hongkong goes against Bri- reaching changes in the tish post war colonial nature and structure of Hong- policies. Colonialism is now kong government have regarded as an inappropriate always been resisted on the form of modern government grounds of our 'peculiar as indicated by theper- geographical location'. We sistent resolutions on this feel this argument although subject by the UN General widely disseminated is not Assembly. The present valid for the following rea- governmental system satis- sons. It is claimed that Iong- nes only a few. There has kong's future is clouded with been growing discontent as uncertainty because of the evidenced by recent social nature of the treaties which Hipheavals P.g.
1964 Bank created it. But if China has Crisis, 1960 Ferry Riots, 1907 tolerated till now an "aulo-
nomous aren" on the edges of its continent, we can as-" sume it. will surely tolerate
a
more sophisticated, egali- tarian, and enlightened ordering of that society de- voled to the interests of the overwhelming Chinese 110- jority of their Own Com- patriots.
We are convinced the con- ferring of full internal local self-government will full not only British obligations to China's tolerance of the present 'autonomous area' working arrangement. Full internal local self govern- ment would not entail any flirtation with defence and Foreign Affairs.
We appeal for support both in Hongkong and the United Kingdom for a public peti- tion to initiate a total re- appraisal of the present situ- alion, We the sponsors of this petition will collect. signatures within Hongkong and appeal to all those people in the United Kingdom who support our cause to write to Post Once Box 2135, Hongkong.
HAN A. V. Careem, Presl-
dent, Ceylonese Asso, Cheung Kir LAM, architect, Elsie Elliort, eleefed Urban
Commeillor.
Dr David IIo. Lecturer in
Psychology, HIKU,
DR DENNY M, I, IIUANG,
elected Urban Councillor, Roment LouD, Professor ot Applied Linguistics, IIKU.
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