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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Our Resettlement scheme is not only the biggest achievement in the last Council year. It is easily the biggest achievement in the Colony's history! But there is still much work to do, especially as regards the density of each room of the multi-storey blocks. I hope that we can alleviate this density in the future. Merely to house these people, mostly refugees, is not the complete task, and I am glad to see Government is constructing some flatted factories in order to provide working space for the settlers to earn their living. But there is one more aspect that cannot be ignored. A multi-storied block can house 2,400 persons. Of these there are some 800 school-aged children. Only a small fraction of them may have the benefit of education in schools built by voluntary agencies. The majority of them are gallivanting around the streets or playing in the gutter. Bereft of education, mingling with street urchins, they may soon turn into juvenile delinquents. They should receive education and later be given manual or vocational training so that they could take their place as citizens of Hong Kong. If we fail in this I would sound a note of warning--these children will be a menace to our Colony in the future.
The Chuk Yuen and Kwuntong resettlement schemes are no longer a question of housing a handful of settlers. They will be satellite towns. May I ask where are the educational facilities, or is it wise to consider proper planning before we find a number of illegal black-market schools and we will again tremble at the seriousness of this situation and are unable to find a solution?
Mr. Chairman, I therefore strongly urge that another storey above the roof should be constructed as school premises. I consider the present practice of reserving a small space on the roof for education by voluntary organizations will not be able to cope with the situation. Another floor should be added. True, the cost is fairly high, but if Government cannot run all the schools itself the premises could be rented, at reasonable rental, to experienced private schools with competent teaching staff so that the cost could be recovered. I hope Government will give this close consideration.
Members of Council are also ex officio members of the Housing Authority. We have been severely criticized about the high rent and other relative matters. The Housing Authority is a public body with 8 elected members to participate in its affairs,
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
and I advocate that public meetings should be held at least quarterly to enable the members to answer the public's views and criticisms, and I am sure that members of the press would also like to be present.
With these words, Mr. Chairman, I support your motion. (Applause).
COL. CLAGUE:-On a point of helpful clarification and not wishing to be provocative, I understood Mr. Au to say that only 40 taxpayers were allowed to vote.
MR. AU:-Only 30. In fact, less than 30. The correct figure is around 25.
COL. CLAGUE:-But "allowed to vote". Should this not be clarified because it could lead to tremendous misunderstanding.
MR. AU:-Yes, I should like to clarify that, with your permission.
CHAIRMAN:-Yes, it would certainly be better.
MR. AU:-As I explained earlier in my speech, the procedure for registration is most awkward. If an income taxpayer wishes to register his right to cast a vote, he has to dig out from his file, produce the receipt for four years and then return to the Inland Revenue Department for approval. Then I am afraid the voter himself has to write a letter and wait for a reply and I suppose the Inland Revenue Department will advise the Commissioner of Registration directly and also send him a copy of the letter. One way or another it is done that way, but most of the taxpayers find it extremely troublesome to dig into the past records and also have to write letters to the Inland Revenue Department for approval. I think all these people, or most of the people, are hesitant to write their what-you-call-it to register themselves and also produce the proof.
Therefore in the latter part of my speech I suggest that whoever is qualified to be registered should be advised by Government and give them a card to send back and make it much simpler for everybody and there will be no hindrance in such procedure.
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