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1.
HONG KONG: A CASE TO ANGVER
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"Hong Kong: A Case to Answer" is a slender pamphlet of 38 pages (plus appendices) produced by some anonymous writers on behalf of a group calling itself the Hong Kong Research Project. Under six different headings, it contains some highly contenticus articles about Hong Kong, its history and economy, social conditions, relations with Britain and the political outlook for the future. It contains much information which is out of date, distorted and misleading. It appears to be a deliberate smear, and attempt to show the administration in the worst light. Even for anyone unfamiliar with Hong Kong, the political slant is obvious. The most misleading section is perhaps that dealing with Hong Kong's political future, where the question of "independence" is discussed. Readers, unfamiliar with the Asian scene, might be misled by some of the arguments which are advanced.
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Throughout, the writers have chosen unqualified and unexplained facts and figures to suit their purpose. been selected to present a one-sided case with little attempt ot anything approaching a balanced or well-argued case.
On its first page, for example, the pamphlet says:
"In the New Territories, there is one doctor for every 20,000 perscrs; in 1973 there were only 238 hospital beds (including private beds) for ordinary patients in the New Territories,"
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adding in parenthesis to make their point, "(population in the 1971 census: 665,700). The reader is probably meant to be aghast at these figures unless he happens to appreciate that long Kong is a small place, that nearly 16,000 beds in various hospitals are for use by people whether they live in tne New Territories or not, and that there is both a "flying doctor" service and an emergency medical evacuation procedure by helicopter for the needy.
Likewise in the introduction, the text describes Hong Kong housing as "abysmal". No one in Hong Kong will say that the housing situation is perfect, but outside Hong Kong it is not generally appreciated that 1.8 million people, or 46% of the population, are today living in government or government- subsidised housing. How many countries in the West can make a: similar claim?
These notes which follow mention only some of the most glaring mistakes and false insinuations. Others are included ir Appendix I. In Appendix II are some immediate reactions to tho,
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