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In the New Territories, there are large spacious Army camps, which lay empty and fallow, with water, heating, cooking facilities, toilets, etc. available.
Government maintains large stocks of beds, bedding and cooking utensils in stores.
These camps will accommodate a large number of young people in a useful camping community, to develop their natural interests and abilities. Furthermore, these camps should not be limited only to during summer holidays, but should be maintained all year round, because these camps, in addition to being recreational, will most certainly be educational.
Transport should not be a problem. Adjacent to some of the empty camps is a railway station within walking distance.
Staffing: I believe that during last year, many young men and women volunteered to do this work, many of whom gave up their holidays to help. It is important, too, to realize that a great number of people in Hong Kong are not over enthusiastic about taking local leave because there is not really very much for them to do during such breaks, but if during these holidays they know they will be contributing towards a meaningful experience, I am certain that the staffing problem could be overcome. Some critics may jump at this opportunity in pointing out that volunteers will simply mean Government securing cheap labour, but this is not so, because these volunteers, in addition to gaining additional experience and contact with the young people in the development of their character and leadership training, they would also be enjoying their holiday in this way. I am wondering if the Director of Social Welfare will not consider if the time has come for him to start a registration list of volunteers for this work, thus enabling his Department to organize orientation programmes.
Naturally, this will cost money—money for the cost of feeding, transportation and accommodation of our young people, but this expense would be a negligible and justifiable investment by Government.
Such a scheme should be sponsored by Government, by the formation of, say, a Hong Kong Cadet Force, with uniform provided, if necessary, to encourage discipline, smartness and pride in themselves, the Force and the community. I am sure that the cost of uniforms would not cripple our economy.
In addition to the camps, part-time interests could be easily encouraged by standing invitations to visit and work with our existing Auxiliary Forces and other services.
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The training, development and encouragement of our young people would benefit them, as members of the Hong Kong Cadet Force could well be recognized as assets and recommendations to potential employers.
Sir, this subject of the future scope and operation of this Council—the White Book and the Green Book, as they are sometimes referred to—has already been ventilated today and I am sure it will continue to be so tomorrow. Therefore, I will not indulge in any further remarks and will, instead, come to the point.
Whilst I have no reason to doubt that this matter is receiving attention and is being considered by Higher Authorities, until such time as the plans are finally approved, I would like to suggest that greater initiative must come from around this table.
Secondly, I suspect that my colleagues would be greatly disappointed if they were to depend on the visiting Members of the British Parliament to solve our local problems. A flying visit, a glance at our economic and political/labour situation and many jaw-wagging sessions before rushing home to proclaim concern, as well as their expert knowledge of our problems and well-being, may be useful but will not serve as a cure-all prescription for our maladies. In this respect, I am certain that our own home-brewed herbs will be more efficacious. As in all branches of medicine, of course, there may be local differences of opinion over whether nature cures or acupuncture needles were likely to be more useful, and as I have said earlier, I believe that initiative must come from this Council and assuming the role of a witch doctor myself, I would like to prescribe that each and every Select Committee should painstakingly go over our own laws and by-laws and propose amendments where necessary to the various sections and sub-sections, where the law has become outmoded to our fast-growing and progressive community. This will be one of the first constructive steps towards greater reform and in so doing, we will be closer to the needs and the interests of the man in the street and we will be doing a greater service to our community at large.
And finally, Mr. Chairman, I would like to extend to you my appreciation for the patience and for the manner in which you have chaired all our sessions and I would also like to request you to convey to our Secretaries and the members of your staff my gratitude for the co-operation and assistance they have rendered to me.
With these words, Sir, I beg to support the motion. (Applause).
Chairman:—Ladies and gentlemen, it was agreed that the Unofficial Members of this Council should be allocated two consecutive
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