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replanning of Victoria and Kowloon, but the
matter is obviously now one of such urgency
and importance that no time should be lost
by the Government of Hong Kong in tackling it.
8. Next I must refer to the more general
question of Social Policy. I have studied
with interest a copy of the report made in
August 1949 by the Government's Social
Welfare Officer on this question.
That Report made recommendations for
the extension and improvement of the
Government's policy in Social matters in a
number of directions but here again I am
convinced that action by the Government
cannot become fully effective unless it is
backed, and consistently supported by a
vigorous body of public opinion, determined
to press for the execution of practicable
measures to improve social conditions, and
to insist on the raising and provision of
funds by taxation or otherwise adequate to
finance this important side of public
administration, and ready themselves to assist
by voluntary endeavour in ameliorating the
lot of the poorer classes.
9. That there are many persons of goodwill
in Hong Kong who are endeavouring in one
direction or another to discharge, to the
best of their ability, these obligations, I
do not doubt, and I have noted with
appreciation the numerous subventions made
by Government to bodies engaged in one form
of social service or another.
But, I repeat,
this does not appear to me to be enough.
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