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# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Estates a world record by any standard. We have the highest percentage of young population, and the highest urban population density in the world. All these are statistical facts of great interest to us and to the world at large. Very often we heard the excuse that an important decision could not be made or was wrongly made because of the lack of adequate statistical information.
There are 1,001 things we would like to know about Hong Kong and its people. For instance: What is our literacy rate in Hong Kong? Are people getting married younger? What do we know about our young people? How many are there not in school? How many are working? What training programmes do they need and want and many others experience has shown that very often, services provided of the kind which we thought they need, turned out to be not exactly what they need or what they want. I am sure we have a lot of records available, but in order to make them into useful materials for publicity or for research programmes, we need expert analysis to give them the value they deserve. For instance: the Commissioner for Resettlement would have been able to answer a lot of questions put to him by Mr. CHEONG-LEEN in the past about the number of school-age children, the number of children not in school, etc. etc. if he had a proper analysis of his records in front of him. Recently, during a Family Planning Seminar we were able to show from the records given to us that the current birth-rate in the Resettlement Estates has dropped dramatically from 31.7 per 1,000 in 1963 to 25.8 in 1964, to 12.5 in 1966. Very dramatic, but how do we explain. It would be of great value and interest, and comparatively easy to conduct some surveys and research programmes in our Resettlement and Housing Estates, especially when the number of people in these places constitute 32% of our whole population.
During the last two months, both our Universities held their Congregation in the Concert Hall of our City Hall. Both Vice-Chancellors have told me that the Hall has become much too small for the purpose even 2 years ago. We had just recently celebrated our 5th Anniversary of the City Hall, earlier this year, and the facilities we provide have already become inadequate. This Council has asked for a Convention Hall time and again, but so far no news. We are already losing much income for Hong Kong from many international conventions and conferences, not to mention the prestige and confidence we could have gained. We cannot afford to wait any longer.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks I support the motion before Council. (Applause).
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN: Mr. Chairman, at this Annual Conventional Debate it is customary for the Unofficial Members of the Urban Council to speak their minds and hearts on a wide range of subjects covering the public welfare.
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The Debate this year is of particular significance and importance in view of the disturbances, the unemployment situation, the rising demands of youth, the devaluation of the pound and consequently the Hong Kong dollar and other social and economic problems which have affected our lives in so many different ways in recent months.
The political disturbances which have buffeted Hong Kong since May this year may have left scars which will remain for some time to come.
Nevertheless, Hong Kong with her 4 million people have a future and a significant role to play, provided that we do not continue to project the image of an expatriate-dominated British Colony administered ostensibly for the benefit of 3.8 million natives under an archaic political structure at the top of which is a good and able governor who is looked upon as a benevolent dictator.
Steps must now be taken to expand the scope of the Urban Council with wider powers and responsibilities. Furthermore, there has to be some form of elected representation in the Legislative Council.
This is a needed reform of first importance having to do with the future of our 4 million residents. The younger generation demand a greater say in the affairs of this Colony. If it is not given, the brain drain which has already commenced will become even worse.
After administering Hong Kong for 125 years, the British Government has a moral obligation to train more locally-born Chinese, Eurasians and Portuguese, even though belatedly to occupy the highest posts in the Administration, instead of preserving the system of indirect dictatorship by having most of the top administrative posts occupied by London-appointed expatriates.
The expatriate Civil Servants have done much to make Hong Kong what it is today, but the passage of time now require a greater contribution by locally-born Chinese, Eurasians, Portuguese and other minority groups.
To some degree, there has developed a sense of commitment, of identity and of common purpose due to the happenings within recent months. But there is no assurance that this will continue.
Until such time as there are elected members in the Legislative Council, any form of changes in the local constitution will be but a poor sop to the need for progressive political changes in Hong Kong.
Meantime the Hong Kong Government would be well advised to proceed as rapidly as possible with expanding the Community Development Liaison system within the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs in order to keep in closer touch with the wants and desires of Hong Kong residents.
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