Extract from Hong Kong Standard 6
Pagode 8 of 344
September
Suggestion of closer UK ties is made
Mr. Dennis Healey, the Labour Party's defence spokesman, was "particularly interested" in the Civic Association's sugges- tion to strengthen Hongkong's ties with the British Parliament.
Following his press conference at the Mandarin Hotel yesterday, Mr. Healey had a full and frank exchange of views at a meeting with the Civic Association group, headed by Mr. Hilton Cheong-Leen.
Mr. Healey said he would discuss "in detail" the con- tents of the Civic Associa- tion's memorandum with Mr. Arthur Bottomley, the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet re- presentative on Colonial Af- fairs.
The contents of the Civic Association's memorandum handed to Mr. Healey stated: The Civic Association believes that a close associa- tion between Hongkong and the United Kingdom govern- ment is highly desirable and that the visit of Mr. Dennis Healey, a member of the Labour Party Shadow Cabinet, has done much to promote that association.
binding
A strong and link with Britain is vital to Hongkong's economic and poli- tical future. What has been called "the miracle of Hong- kong" has been nothing more than the strong desire of the people of Hongkong to stand on their own feet in personal dignity and human freedom.
In order to strengthen this link, the Civic Associa- tion suggested that Mr. Den- nis Healey explore the feasi- bilify of having a Parliamen- tary Sub-Committee appointed in the House of Commons to watch over the affairs of Hongkong. Also, the Labour Parliamentary Party might consider the setting up of its own Sub-Committee on Hong- kong, if it has not yet done
SO.
The Civic Association does not advocate major constitutional reform for Hongkong, but is in favour of the following adjustments to the local constitutional ma- chinery:
(a) Increasing the number of elected seats in the Urban Council by another two to four seats for the next Urban Council election in 1965.
(b) Putting the Education and Medical Departments under the Urban Council.
(c) The inclusion of several elected Urban Councillors in the Legislative Council.
The Civic Association believes that an educated community is Hongkong's best safeguard for its economic
and political future. The As- sociation regards the present educational policy in Hong- kong as short-sighted and urges Mr. Healey to take up with the Colonial Office the Association's proposal that thê percentage of the annui
budget on education be ir- creased from a static 15 pår cent to at least 20 per cent. There should be no difficulty. in this being done, since every year Hongkong budgets for a huge deficit and usually ends. up with a huge surplus. X It is also suggested that Mr. Healey take steps to ert- courage the Commonwealth Development Corporation to ema&funfs3ailable for low- cost housing schemes in Hong- kong to enable white collar and middle income groups to purchase their own flats over a five to ten-year period.
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44
Extract from South Ching Sunday.
Post-Herald
5
22nd September
Be
Formation of
of Parliamentary
sub-committee urged
A full and frank exchange of views on matters affecting Hongkong took place yesterday between Mr Denis Healey, Labour Party Member of Parliament, and the General Committee of the Hongkong Civic Association.
Mr Healey, it was learned, assured the Civic Association leaders that on his return to London he would discuss their suggestions for certain constitu- tional reforms with Mr Arthur Bottomley, Member of Parliament and Colonial Affairs Secretary in the Labour Party's shadow cabinet.
Mr Healey was presented with
a memorandum by the Civic As- sociation's General Committee. This stressed that "a strong and binding link with Britain is vital to Hongkong's economic and political future."
It reiterated the Civic As- sociation's earlier proposal that a Parliamentary sub- committee should be appointed in the House of Commons to watch over the affairs of Hongkong in order to strengthen the link between the Colony and Britain.
The memorandum suggested that Mr Healey should explore the feasibility of such an ap- pointment, and that the Labour Party itself should set up such a sub-committee if it had not already done so.
Referring to constitutional re- forms the memorandum pointed out that the Civic Association did not advocate major reforms. It was in favour of the following adjustments to the constitutional machinery:
(1) Increasing the number of elected seats in the Urban Coun- cil by another two to four seats for the next Urban Council election in 1965;
(2) Putting the Education and Medical Departments under the Urban Council;
(3) The inclusion of several elected Urban Councillors in the Legislative Council.
The memorandum added: "The Civic Association regards the present educational policy in Hongkong as short-sighted and urges Mr Healey to take up with the Colonial Office the Associa- tion's proposal that the percent- age of the annual budget on education be increased from a static 15 per cent to at least 20 per cent.
Low-cost housing
"There should be no difficulty in this being done, since every year Hongkong budgets for a huge deficit and usually ends up with a huge surplus.
"It is also suggested that Mr Denis Healey take steps to en- courage the Commonwealth De- velopment Corporation to make funds available for low-cost housing schemes in Hongkong to enable white-collar and middle income groups to purchase their own flats over a five to 10 year period."
The Civic Association General Committee was represented by Dr P. F. Woo (Chairman), Mr Li Yiu-bor (Vice-Chairman), Mr Cheung Wing-in (Vice-Chair- man), Mr Hilton Cheong-Leen (Hon. Secretary-General), Dr Peter C. Y. Lee (Hon. Deputy Secretary-General), Mr Sydney
Mr C. K. Cheung, Mr S.
an, Dr M. F. Huang, Mr
omwell Hall.
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