26 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL-2nd October 1969.
[MR TSE] Motion
corporal punishment should be more frequently resorted to as a suitable measure to discourage crime, though it might seem severe and extreme. Such punishment is necessary in the community today in view of the recalcitrance of youth and the unrest in the community which were unheard of before. When tranquillity is restored, the merits of this measure will be realized as a basic and permanent solution of the problem. My understanding is that the retention and more frequent resort to such penalty is what public opinion would overwhelmingly support today. This is akin to a palliative, because the fundamental cure is through moral persuasion and kindness. A combination of severity and moral teaching will bring about peace and security to Hong Kong. This is a big problem and its solution is not easy.
In March 1968* I made suggestion in this Council to counsel and guide youth to tread on the right track. After some revision they are as follows:
(a) The best way to prevent crime on the part of youth is to have them absorbed in trade and industries through expansion of industries and the construction works. A pre-requisite is to provide them with technical education. In public offices connected with trade and industries, it is necessary to rid and prevent corruption if any and provide protection to industries so that the manufacturers may have confidence in expanding their plants and output. There should also be measures to encourage investment in construction projects and the inflow of more capital from abroad.
(b) The Education authorities should endeavour to provide for young people opportunity of a secondary or technical educa- tion. This end should be reached whether by free tuition or subsidies, so that educational and cultural standard of these people may be generally raised. Alternatively they may be so trained as to fit in all kinds of employment. (c) In assisting youth to obtain employment, Government should set up a special organization for implementation and should also give aid to volunteer organizations which are placing youth in various positions. To provide training and employ- ment, a common effort should be undertaken among public and private organizations, schools, factories and public bodies. (d) All Government offices administrating public utilities, com- munications, public sanitation, etc should rigidly adhere to the age of retirement in order to provide vacancies for younger people to fill in.
* 1968 Hansard, page 102.