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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
difference, if burials six years ago are to be exhumed even in private lots. (Laughter).
MR. SALES—Sir, I suggest that it be referred to the relevant Select Committee. (Laughter).
MR. CHEUNG WING-IN—I would like the Chairman to give the reply.
CHAIRMAN: Sir, without pretending to be an expert on the cemetery arrangements, I know that in certain of the sections they are let off in lots to organizations of different kinds, clansmen and so forth, and I think the reference is to this when they talk about private lots. The motion has been proposed by Mr. CHEUNG Wing-in and seconded by Mr. LOBO.
The question was put.
The motion was carried.
(2) DR. R. H. S. LEE moved the following motion:
That this Council endorse the Statement of Aims for 1966 tabled today.
He said: "The last thirty years have seen greater changes in the pattern of human affairs than at any time since the fall of the Roman Empire. They have been more rapid even than those when Jenghis Khan's forces swept the great land mass that lies between the shores of the Pacific Ocean and the banks of the Oder that most people have been unable to grasp what has happened" so writes a contemporary historian. If this be the state of affairs for the last 30 years who can foretell what will happen in the next 30 years. Our prognosticators look dismally at Hong Kong's future in 30 years' hence when the N.T.'s lease will expire. If water from the East River is any indication at all there is every prospect that Mainland China will play ball and extend our lease for another 50 years. As the kaleidoscope of world affairs is changing at such a rapid pace who can forecast with dead certainty what the future has in store for us? Besides being a good source of hard currency Hong Kong offers many advantages to China. Hong Kong in Mainland China's hands becomes not only a dead city but a liability with many millions of mouths to feed.
Yet if we are to control our destiny we must understand the world in which we live. We must face this century's problems with XXth century tools and not with the antiquated machinery of the last century. We have not a minute to lose but to educate our people to the ways of democratic life: we should educate them not only the right and responsibility of Hong Kong citizenship but drive home to them the value of belonging to Hong Kong and the sense of wanting to be a citizen of Hong Kong. It is only in this way that we can look forward to a happy and bright future.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
If we are to achieve our target we have to direct our energies in a right way. To many people the name Colony has many objectionable connotations: it should be called the free port of Hong Kong. Ever since the founding of Hong Kong little or no constitutional change has taken place. The Urban Council should be changed into a Municipal Council with its powers vastly improved and its membership entirely elected. The Legislative Council should be at least half elected; since the Executive Council advise H.E. the Governor half should come from the Legislative Council and half from the future Municipal Council the most important administrative organ which has an element of elected representation.
There is then the question of the N.T. which in a few years' time will have several satellite towns with population running into the million mark. These will require district Councils to administer them. Unless we take proper measure to set up the machinery for these townships now, chaos may well be the end result.
Local government follows recognized pattern, and the time is opportune for Government to appoint a Royal Commission consisting of local personnel and constitutional experts from Overseas to advise on the right and correct line to take. Education, fire prevention, roads and traffic are recognized departments of local government and yet these are left outside the purview of the Urban Council.
Since tourism is Hong Kong's second largest and most important industry it is in our interest to stimulate and to promote it. The creation of a country resort in the Sai Kung peninsula with outdoor facilities such as a nice beach, golf course, oceanarium will enhance Hong Kong's reputation as the Pearl of the Orient.
We in the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee have explored various means in trying to keep the Urban streets and lanes clean. We have practically exhausted our endeavours in this field with human labour. If we are to further increase our result, we have to take a page from other cities and rely more on the mechanical side of cleansing. This has been well demonstrated by the Wayne brush sweeper the other day; but we have to await for the arrival next spring of the Yorkshire sweeper, which operates on a suction principle, before we could reach any conclusive decision as to the best machine most suitable for Hong Kong's use. I am glad that the Gin-Drinkers dump will be closed soon and many modern incinerators will be built to take over its function.
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