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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Hong Kong does not yet have any form of social security system applying to the whole community. We will have to start at some time or the other.
Initially, I am in favour of the Government appointing a Committee to plan for a National Pension Scheme. The main provisions would be:
(1) All employers having more than 10 employees should join the scheme if they do not have their own scheme for their employees;
(2) The monthly pension should be a basic minimum pension payable if and when an employee retires at the age of 65. This will be a state provision and it does not preclude the employee from seeking additional private provision for old age.
(3) To qualify for the National Pension Scheme a person must be born in Hong Kong or have lived here for at least 15 years. The amount of the basic minimum pension should be the same for both men and women.
Resettlement
Last year when His Excellency the Governor officially opened Tze Wan Shan Estate, which will have eventually a population of 170,000, he said that within the next 10 years over half of our population may well be living in resettlement estates.
With rising incomes and a growing demand among our younger generation for the good things of life, there will be more pressure for better housing standards.
Many young married couples tell me that they do not like to live in the older resettlement estates, and would much prefer to raise their families in Housing Authority type of public housing.
The new Mark IV blocks which provide each room with a small balcony and private lavatory are a great improvement over the old Shek Kip Mei blocks with their rough-and-ready communal facilities.
It is very important, however, for Government to bear in mind that children born in resettlement estates are equally entitled to the same degree of recreational, educational and community development facilities as are enjoyed by those living in Housing Authority estates.
This will naturally require more detailed planning of future resettlement estates, but it will in the years to come give a better standard of housing for our younger generation.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Constitutional Progress
355
In the Statement of Aims for 1967 it is stated under "General Policy" that the Urban Council will press more vigorously to enlarge the Council's scope in the spirit of the Ad Hoc Committee's Report.
Members of the Urban Council recognize that independence for Hong Kong is fraught with danger, and in the words of a distinguished colleague who aptly put it not so long ago "all things considered, better the golden goose than the giant panda" (not gander), and I am sure that the members of this Council would prefer to seek larger internal responsibilities by way of a Greater Hong Kong Council (O), under which there will be several District Councils.
We do not know when substantial reform at the municipal level can take place.
A transitional step would be for Members to amend Standing Orders to permit ultra vires Questions to be asked on local government matters falling within the departmental jurisdiction of the Official Members sitting on the Urban Council.
As in the case of ultra vires motions, all such ultra vires Questions should first be approved by the Standing Committee of the Whole Council or a designated Select Committee.
The giving of wider responsibilities in local government will assuredly inculcate a closer sense of belonging, of pride, and of citizenship rights and duties among our younger generation.
As more elected seats are available, our younger people will come to realize that they have after all a real stake in the future of Hong Kong.
This sense of commitment has to be developed not only in local politics but also in the Civil Service. When Mr. Fred LEE first visited Hong Kong, he did express concern that local people were not given enough opportunities to rise to the top.
The local Civil Servant should be given equal opportunity in the senior and administrative grades of the Civil Service, and all hidden forms of discrimination in pay or promotion must be eliminated.
Defence Contribution
The Colonial Secretary, I am referring to Mr. Fred LEE, is expected to return to Hong Kong today with a team of advisers to persuade Government to increase Hong Kong's annual defence contribution from $40 million to $160 million, according to a recent London press report.
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