HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Last year I was mildly rebuked by the Director of Public Works over the question of refuse in the harbour. The floating boom he promised has been installed but the refuse in the harbour is still very apparent. I must apologize for suggesting that it came from the Gin Drinkers Bay refuse dump. It must come from somewhere and I trust that the "Working Party on Pollution of the Waters of Hong Kong" will hasten their final report and the implementation of any measures they recommend should be placed in category "A".
The lottery is now a fact and in its initial modest form the proceeds are being earmarked for the Social Welfare Department. I would like to repeat my request of last year on behalf of the Housing Authority and Housing Society that the lottery's scope should be expanded quickly so as to provide much needed capital for these two admirable bodies.
With these few remarks, Mr. Chairman, I have much pleasure in supporting the motion to accept the Statement of Progress and Policy. (Applause).
DR. R. H. S. LEE:- Mr. Chairman, the only time each year when members of the Urban Council have an opportunity of expressing their views on important public questions which are outside the scope of the Council's powers is at the Annual Debate, and need I add, Mr. Chairman, that it is the only Council where there is an elected element, and the total number of elected seats for the whole of the Colony is only eight and still is. If the cause for more elected representation in the Colony remains stationary, Sir, is it through any fault of the elected members? In opposing every step of constitutional reform, Government is well advised to re-consider the consequences of discouraging responsible and civic-spirited citizens in giving up their valuable time and services without thought of pay or reward, because, if the truth must be told, we cannot carry the baby forever. We would point out, however, that some of the factors for the Colony's post-war stability is the absolute lack of political unrest so noticeable in other parts of the world, and the faith we have in the future of Hong Kong.
Sir, because of our ineffective representation, we are in greater danger of attack from our friends rather than from our enemies. Hong Kong is more vulnerable in the economic front than in the military one. In the case of a general war it is only a fool who thinks that the Colony can be defended. With our limited natural resources and immense growing population, we are gravely concerned with our economic prosperity and the increasing trade restrictions that have been applied by the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Canada on some of our locally manufactured cotton goods. As an elected member, Mr. Chairman, I cannot allow this form of unilateral action to take place without protest, because if we allow this sort of thing to occur lying down, other more severe measures are sure to follow—believe me. It is just too easy to impose them because they know only too well that we are powerless to fight back.
Because of this, the United Kingdom Government is not entirely blameless because the precedent was set by Lancashire. We would point out, however, that no democratic government worth its salt would stand the treatment that Hong Kong is now receiving without protest.
As a British Crown Colony without an elected legislature, Hong Kong is like a person who is both bound and gagged. We would draw attention to the fact, however, that as a listening post in the perimeter of the free world we have a duty to perform. With hardly any natural resources whatsoever, this tiny Colony of over 3 million people relies almost exclusively on trade and manufactures in order to live. By almost entirely through its own effort, it has bravely rebuilt the Colony after years of enemy occupation during the last war, and rehoused hundreds of thousands of refugees with very little outside help. May I say that instead of being encouraged and helped like other under-developed nations, we are being penalized for being able to help ourselves and to help others, like the refugees who poured into the Colony after the fall of mainland China. Trade, Mr. Chairman, is a two-way street: we would point out that Hong Kong imported far more from the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Canada than was the case in reverse. Last year Hong Kong imported $757 million worth of goods from the United Kingdom, $729 million from the United States of America, and $102 million from Canada; whereas, the United Kingdom imported only $589 million, the United States of America only $679 million, and Canada only $64 million from Hong Kong. Trade is our life blood; Mr. Chairman: we want trade and not aid,
In view of the immense potentiality of the sea no effort should be spared in helping our experienced fishermen in exploiting this source of wealth, and every endeavour should be made in seeking new fishing grounds. As food is our most precious commodity, we must do all we can in stimulating its production. It is an industry, Mr. Chairman, in which we can have no fear of over-production.
Due to Hong Kong's land shortage, vertical development of the urban areas is the established pattern, and other alternative forms of rapid transit system have to be sought to move the people from their homes to places of work and schools, if our present roads are not to be packed with cars in a few years' time so as to render them useless for rapid movement. It is also evident, Sir, that it is the Government's policy to establish satellite towns in the New Territories to cater for the Colony's expanding population and industries. For the Colony's traffic in the Central District, however, some form of conveyor system will have to be provided because of the many stops that are needed for this part of the Colony. But for the distant towns like Tsuen Wan
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