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The Staw-spoff 13/10/11
WHY SHOULD
HK PAY OUT $560 MILLION?!
The Reform Club of Hongkong writes:
T
HÈ controversial issue of increase of de- fence costs for the period of the next five years is everybody's concern. The Reform Club is of the opinion that the increase of de- fence costs for Hongkong to bear is unjust and that there should have been far more protest from the Hongkong Government.
In this time of the century with our most needed Social Security Scheme still lagging be- hind ages, why should Hongkong pay over $560 million hard earned cash for defence costs where- as the Social Welfare Department only gets one fifth of the amount. Hongkong needs hospitals, dental clinics, mental sanatoriums, public health schemes, homes for the aged, free and compul- sory secondary education and a lot of other so- cial services.
While England, as the mother country to this "Colony" should be under an obligation to pro- vide for the protection and security of Hong- kong, it is unfair and unreasonable for Hongkong herself to meet so much this terrifying bill for British troops in the Far East,
Hongkong is ever expanding over the years. This is due to the efforts of our industrialists and labour forces and to business enterprises. The result of economic growth should there- fore be shared by the majority of citizens. Hong- kong already provides almost one third of the total Sterling backing but the Social Services in Hongkong are far from satisfactory and certain- ly we will still need colossal improvements in order to achieve economic stability and a plea- sant place for everyone to live in.
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