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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
the bars which we have there. I think one of the reasons why many of us would like to see the whole of Whitfield Barracks handed over to the Urban Council is that we can be sure there will be that many less bars along the boulevard of Nathan Road.
Mr. A. de O. SALES: Mr. Chairman, just a question to clarify your position. You have not told us whether you are in favour or against the motion, or whether, like the translucent spirit of Mr. Wilfred WONG, you are transcending the importance of the Urban Council to go to the cross benches? (Laughter).
CHAIRMAN: This is a difficult question. I shall certainly not vote against the motion. I have a choice between abstaining and voting for, and my position is not entirely clear, because although I am an Official Member and the Chairman of the Urban Council, that would not offer difficulty if I were not also a member of the Town Planning Board. (Laughter).
On the whole, I think it can be inferred from my remarks in my speech what my sentiments are, but as far as voting is concerned, I shall abstain.
MR. A. de O. SALES: Thank you, Sir, first may I deal with the opinions which were offered to this Council: First and foremost, it is not important what flavour we give to the park. What is important is that the area should be set aside for the exclusive use of the people. Secondly, it does not matter at all how much money the sale of land in that area would bring to the public exchequer. What matters is that the public should derive benefit from the use of the land which is rightly theirs. An excellent point was made by Mr. Henry Hu that the public paid a king's ransom for land which the Services got, presumably, without paying a red cent for it. If the taxpayer has contributed so much to recover this land, it is rightfully his to use for his recreation and for purposes which he would like. It seems to me grossly unfair, after having redeemed this piece of land from the Services, that the Hong Kong Government should turn around and auction it off to help cover the increase in the cost of the garrison, as it is rumoured in Hong Kong that it is the intention of the Government to do. If such were the case, then the taxpayer would be paying twice for Whitfield Barracks. I have always said, and I stand by my belief until it is proved wrong, that Hong Kong being a Colony, it is the fundamental obligation of the Sovereign Power to protect it and to guarantee the maintenance of law and order. That is an incontrovertible position and it has not been refuted. So, when Hong Kong makes a contribution towards the upkeep of the garrison of its own free will, then let Hong Kong do so; but, the poor people of Hong Kong standing in such great need of so many social services should not suffer in consequence.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
There is a huge reserve of funds that has been accumulated. Let that be applied to the increased contribution made by Hong Kong towards the upkeep of the garrison, or, as it was said, the foreign exchange element in the cost of the garrison. But let not the people suffer more than they have done from the lack of services which a prosperous community such as Hong Kong is expected to have. It is idle to speculate on the gross national product. It is futile to boast about the fact that ours is the second highest per capita income in Asia. All the achievements of commerce and industry in Hong Kong, and the great progress made by the public administration here—all those achievements ring hollow when the people suffer from lack of such services.
The Whitfield Barracks provides that opportunity which the people of Hong Kong have been wanting for a long time now: that is, to have adequate recreational facilities. That area could be developed to provide certain services which Kowloon does not have. It is useless to tell this Council that we have a tremendous acreage of open space in Kowloon. That, as I have said earlier, is in North Kowloon, serving the teeming population in our resettlement areas. Even Kowloon Tsai Park in its second stage of development is already put to exceedingly great use, and the Kowloon Tsai Park is so far away from the city centre that most people on the Island and even in Kowloon do not know where it is. A fact which your Department, Sir, has acknowledged by the way.
I am grateful to all my colleagues for having supported this motion. The views that they have made will no doubt be taken into account when the relevant Select Committee considers the layout of whatever portion of Whitfield Barracks may be allocated to us. But let me make a plea to the Governor-in-Council that the balance of fairness in Hong Kong must be exercised in favour of the masses, because they are not represented on the Councils of Government. They have no say in what their destiny should be. They have only a small slice of the cake of prosperity in Hong Kong. And so, Sir, it is only right and in keeping with the best principles of good government to protect those who stand in the greatest need of protection.
CHAIRMAN: I now put the question to the vote.
The motion was carried with 14 votes for and 5 abstentions.
(2) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN moved the following motion:-
"This Council is concerned about the number of primary age children in resettlement estates who are not attending school."
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