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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ·
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2nd October 1969.
[MR WONG] Motion
The above points outline some avenues of the pursuit of happiness by the people. Neither Hong Kong nor anywhere else can hope to be an Utopia. But Hong Kong, situated between two civilizations, can move a few steps nearer to it and relieve itself from some of the drawbacks which invariably and inevitably accompany material achievements.
Sir, I support the motion.
3.54 p.m.
HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT:-I think honourable Members might like to break at this time and in accordance with Standing Order No 8(5) I will suspend the sitting of Council for approximately 15 minutes until 10 minutes past Four o'clock.
4.10 p.m.
HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT:-Council will resume.
MRS ELLEN LI:-Your Excellency, as this is the beginning of the new session for this Council, may I say that I have enjoyed your Excellency's opening speech very much, because it was a speech of sincerity giving a factual account of the development of Hong Kong, and not a political eye-wash which says and promises a lot but means nothing. Last week, when I was asked by the press what sort of a Governor we would like to have for Hong Kong, if we had a choice- a politician, a career diplomat or an able administrator-my answer was that if we were ever to be consulted, I would prefer a hard-working, able all-round administrator like yourself, Sir, and leave the politics and diplomacy to London.
My Colleagues have already spoken on many important issues and made valuable suggestions and others will do so later. I will keep to the subjects which I am most interested in and leave it to the Government to assess their merits for consideration.
The first subject I would like to comment on is the question of housing. The gigantic programme of providing public housing for 50% of the population by 1974 is, to say the least, a world phenom- enon today. Our attention should now concentrate on the type of accommodation, their locations and other facilities, such as transporta- tion, recreation, medical and schools. The Director of Education will tell us that very soon we shall have more primary school premises than we need. It is therefore time to consider embarking on a pro- gressive secondary school programme as well as post-primary trade schools, especially within the Estates compounds, so that the trans-