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course, as advocated by Dr. BELL, and many other types of public recreation facilities.
There is, furthermore, a desperate shortage of youth centres which could organize training classes, Chinese shadow boxing, chess games and other forms of healthy recreation for our younger generation.
Too many young children are being led astray because of abject poverty and insufficient recreation facilities. Illegal gambling and betting is so widespread that Government would be wise to implement without delay the recommendation of the Advisory Committee to set up within the Police Force a special squad to combat illegal gambling and to seek the active co-operation of the Kaifongs and other voluntary societies to work with the squad. Even the Police themselves cannot deny that illegal gambling is happening on a colossal scale. It has been estimated that on Tse Fat alone the sum of $50 to $60 million is being collected annually from housewives, labourers, shop foremen, Government servants and others by the operators of our highly organized rackets. I am not making any reference to Government servants who are seated at this table. (Laughter)
Urban Councillors are playing a vital role in combating illegal gambling in Hong Kong by fighting for more recreation facilities for Hong Kong people and their children. We of course have to rely on the Finance Committee of Legislative Council, on the Town Planning Board, on the Public Works Department and on the Colonial Secretariat to give us maximum and even closer support in our efforts and plans for more public recreation facilities, and that is the main purpose of this motion.
I also believe that Unofficial Urban Councillors with their close contact with the public in all walks of life can, in turn, do much to assist Government and the Police Force in combating illegal gambling, and this is especially true now that the ward system has been established and appears to be acceptable to Hong Kong people. If Government really wishes to get maximum help in combating illegal gambling it can do nothing of more lasting value to the community than to put the Commissioner of Police on the Urban Council. He might not find it easy to cope with the Unofficials who are all public-spirited, imaginative and independent men and women, but the Commissioner of Police will find that their advice and co-operation will be most valuable to the extent that the advantages of his being on the Urban Council will completely outweigh whatever the disadvantages, real or imaginary, which may be harboured in the minds of our senior civil servants.
Mr. Chairman, I now move the motion.
MR. LI YIU-BOR:- Mr. Chairman, I rise to second the motion by Mr. CHEONG-LEEN.
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It was pointed out to me by a friend only a few days ago that people who talk a great deal in public are those who have no say at home. (Laughter) I do not know how far this is true and it is certainly no reflection on the mover of this motion, but it reminds me to keep my speeches always as brief as possible except in the Annual Convention Debate of this Council.
Usually when Mr. CHEONG-LEEN asks me to second or support his motion he keeps his speech a top secret, but when he asked me to second this particular motion he was good enough to show me his short speech and to assure me that he would not make use of the opportunity to start a long debate on gambling policy which is no concern of ours. This is indeed a healthy sign on the part of Mr. CHEONG-LEEN, a sign of approaching maturity. (Laughter)
As you are aware, Sir, the members of this Council have always supported the suggestions of the Urban Amenities Select Committee to provide more recreational facilities in the Urban Areas. I suppose that when this motion is passed it will be referred to that particular Select Committee for consideration and action, and I feel sure that when Mr. CHEONG-LEEN is invited to participate in its deliberations he will be able to attend its early meetings and that punctually. I use the word "punctually" advisedly, Mr. Chairman, because Mr. CHEONG-LEEN has very much to do with watches and clocks and other timepieces to boot.
In his speech Mr. CHEONG-LEEN has enumerated various facilities to be provided but he has apparently omitted one vital thing. A King-size Hiltonian park where old men like myself can enjoy a quiet, leisurely walk in the evenings, and where discussion of politics of sorts will be completely taboo.
I think my esteemed friend, Mr. SALES, will agree with me that such a park should be built on the persecuted and long-suffering side of the Harbour and that there should be absolutely no cross-subsidization in this important matter.
With these brief remarks, Sir, I have pleasure to second the motion.
MR. FORSGATE:-- Mr. Chairman, my colleague, Mr. Li Yiu-bor, having pointed out the dangers of the trap of verbosity, proceeded to fall right into it.
The proposer and seconder of this motion, although not members of the Urban Amenities Select Committee, must be well aware of the solid work and achievements of this Select Committee in the very field of endeavour to which they are now directing this Council's and presumably, as this is an open debate, the Public's attention. Modesty, of course, precludes the Chairman of this Select Committee, Mr. A. de O.
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