SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST - 10th January, 1970.
TORY PARTY LEADER HAS A BUSY DAY.
Mr Heath, who last week won the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, yesterday thumbed his nose at the 16 degree weather and took to the water at the Hilton Hotel pool while most of Hongkong huddled in overcoats.
Reolder
Heath gets petitions
on civic
reforms
The Reform Club and the Civic Association yesterday petitioned the leader of the British Conservative Party, Mr Edward Heath, for support on the rent control, ombudsman and Government and civic reforms issues.
The petitions were given to proved road systems and ing the safeguarding of. Mr Heath during his meeting railway extensions, a youth Hongkong's interests in the with elected Urban Coun- department, the setting up of event of Britain joining the cillors at the Chartered Bank a Labour Dispute Tribunal European Economic Com- Penthouse where he is and an increase in the per- munity. staying.
During dinner, he had discussions about Hongkong, its problems and future with Unofficial Mem-
sonal tax allowance.
It also urged immediate further equal pay for nurses and teachers.
The Reform Club claimed bers of the Executive and the present taxation system Legislative Councils. favoured the rich, to the de- triment of middle class fami-
Both petitions also called for the introduction of com- pulsory primary education.
The Civic Association's petition urged the setting up of a family subsidy scheme to benefit families whose children are forced into lies. "child labour."
It claimed there were more than 100,000 empty primary school places in Hongkong while 80,000 children in the primary school age group did not go to school.
The Civic Association esti- mated such a scheme would cost Government between $15 and $20 million annually.
It advocated the raising of the personal tax allowance from $7,000 to $12,000 with an exemption of $5,000 for parents' maintenance where necessary.
The Club claimed Govern- ment made a blatant mistake by not introducing rent con- trols and house eviction pro- tections.
The Association's petition
Yesterday Mr Heath spent accused the British Govern- the first day of his "private" ment of using the Hongkong visit looking at squatter areas, airport as a "cat's paw" in resettlement estates and hold- the game of international ing talks with Hongkong busi- landing rights and holding up nessmen and community the runway extension.
leaders.
am
The Reform Club's petition
His day began at 9.15 also stressed the need for
when he was met by the As- faster slum clearance, ex- sistant Commissioner of the
tended medical services, im- Resettlement Department, Mr
R.G.B. Bridge, and taken for his first look at a squatter area in Victoria Road, Pok- fulam.
Mr Heath Wall
through
the area and was then taken, to see the Shek Pai Wan resttlement estate and Wah Fu estate in Aberdeen.
He then had discussions. with Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils.
The talks lasted for more than an hour and covered a wide range of subjects includ-
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