- 5 -
And who are these powerful people? Senior civil servants in that
vast Hong Kong type Capitol Hill of the Colonial Secretariat? Members of
the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council? Frankly, I don't know
whom to lobby when some project I am interested in is lost in the labyrinth
of the Secretariat for months if not years.
So it remains for my Committee to urge in the strongest possible
terms for more libraries, more study rooms like the one in the Kowloon Park.
With regard to the latter, my personal view is that groups outside Government
could be made more aware of the great need for public study rooms, rooms
with bare furniture, adequate lighting set in accessible places for young
people to find a haven in which to study. Since November 1970 we have
established such a study room at the Haiphong Road entrance to the Kowloon
Park, where a study room with 282 seats is used to full capacity during
examinations and well used at other times.
After the excellent lunch we have just had, we could all do with
some exercise, and I would be pleased to act as guide if any rotarian is
free and interested; or if there is any sub-committee ready to explore the
idea I would be happy to liaise with my committee. This is a wonderful type
of community service, gentlemen.
You have done me the honour of being a gentlemanly audience, and
I know from experience not to take advantage of your friendly sex; but I
have another brief today. I would like you to forget the tired jokes about
the Urban Council or Urban Councillors; and to take a fresh interest in the
election in 1973; and campaign for registration of voters that will
precede it. The registration cycle is about to begin.
When the Urban Council is given financial autonomy and some-what
greater powers, when we stop being advisers and politicians, we need the
support of the silent majority like you - men of integrity and initiative,
men with sensible and sensitive ideas for the improvement of community
affairs in this city for which we all have some responsibility.
forward to seeing some of you ready to shoulder the heavier responsibilities
of the future, since there is much of your goodwill that we Councillors
I look
/must