CASE TO ANSWER
CROSS HARBOUR
TUNNEL
(p.23)
I am bound to say that I find this a disappointing
document disappointing in that so much obvious
effort has been devoted to researching background
material, but this has then been twisted and
manipulated to suit a biassed and partisan argument
which does scant justice to the post-war record
of the Government and people of Hong Kong.
For example, much play is made about the size of
our sterling balances when, in fact, Hong Kong's
official U.K. reserves amount to no more than
50% of the Colony's annual expenditure.
Again, there are frequent references to the Colony's
deplorable record in social services when, in fact,
38% of our current budget is devoted to housing,
education, medical and welfare services, and another
28% to essential community services such as roads,
water and fire services. The Government is budgeting
for a deficit this year, but is spending more money
than ever before on building new towns, new communications
and new public services such as mass transit and new
water schemes.
The pamphlet equally ignores the fact that since
1953 Government has already become landlord to
nearly half the population, and that vast plans are
already in hand to modernise and improve the living
conditions of these tenants.
.../.