I
3
11.
The Government's main argument for demolition of the KCR building is that replanning of the Cultural Complex that would replace it would lead to unacceptable delays to its completion. This argument is based on the premise that when His Excellency decided to demolish the building (in May 1977), plans for the new Cultural Complex were already far advanced. The Heritage Society knows for a fact, from Government sources, that this was not so, and if His Excellency believed it to be so he was seriously misled.
12.
It is respectfully submitted that an examination of the enclosed exhibits will clearly show that His Excellency's decision resulted from questionable advice.
13.
Your Petitioners are especially anxious to give Your Majesty some perspectives on one very important factor, namely, Hong Kong public opinion in this matter. It is regularly proclaimed by senior Hong Kong administrators, including His Excellency the Governor, that Hong Kong is an example of 'Government by Consensus' and that the people's wishes must be taken into account in the decision-making process. To many Hong Kong people this seems, in some administrative areas, to be far from the truth. Your Majesty's attention is respectfully drawn to the cynicism expressed by indigenous Hong Kong people concerning the sincerity of the Government's intentions in this regard. This cynicism is described and explained in some detail in the attached Exhibits.
14.
Your Majesty will doubtless be advised by the Hong Kong Government that the Chinese population in Hong Kong is apathetic in the matter of the KCR building. Because of this it is vitally important that the reasons for this 'apathy' namely, the cynicism already mentioned, the fear of openly opposing authority even in civic matters, and a marked cultural tendency to tell officials what they want to hear, should be appreciated by Your Majesty.
15.
That official awareness of grassroots' feeling is not all it should be in Hong Kong was dramatically demonstrated by the official reaction to the recent explosion of protest in the Royal Hong Kong Police Force.
16.
Your Petitioners respectfully submit
a)
b)
c)
d)
that a sample public opinion poll amassing an excess of 15,000 signatures at the rate of 200 per hour asking for retention of the KCR building is very significant, especially considering;
that there is a traditional reluctance of local colonial Chinese people to oppose authority or become involved in controversial issues, even civic issues;
that there is wide-spread fear, justifiable in Hong Kong, of victimization by Government or by other powerful interests, and of being branded as 'trouble-makers', (dubious/underhand pressures have already been felt by some of the Society's members);
that despite this, the majority of signatories are people in the lower socio-economic groups;
.....to be cont'd.....
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