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# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Some 4,500 leases in New Kowloon will expire in 1973 to 1976. The resultant high Crown Rents demanded for the renewal of these leases will result in the landlords passing the buck to the unfortunate tenants who will ultimately be forced into the streets, thus increasing the need for resettlement housing. We must therefore plan for this potential threat to these unnumbered people who would need housing low-cost housing for the white-collar class. However, this is easier said than done, for it is realized that the lands for the provision of cheap housing must be found, and today land is at a premium. Several parties all clamour for the grant of building sites to provide for education, for hospitals, for social amenities and various public purposes, and Government must be exercising its mind and ingenuity to find ways and means to provide for the need of all. This question of providing low-cost housing raises two other questions: (a) avail- ability of sites and (b) capital. For capital, one can always turn to our accumulated large surplus which should be used for the purpose of providing for the poor homeless people; but for building sites, it is another problem demanding solution, and I would commend this to the attention of those concerned who will, I am sure, be able to find ways and means to produce the rabbit from the hat!
Since lands within the urban area cannot be found for resettle- ment estates, the only alternative is the New Territories, and the obvious choice is Sha Tin which is conveniently near the Lion Rock Tunnel. The demand for housing would not be so great if Govern- ment, as the largest supplier of land, would act reasonably and in accordance with public opinion against high Crown rents and exorbi- tant renewal premiums. Our civic leaders, particularly the Chinese Manufacturers' Association, have already made known to the Govern- ment clearly the disastrous effects which high Crown rents and renewal premiums would have on our economy. I need not elaborate too much on this topic except to say what I am in entire agreement with the views expressed.
Advertisement By-laws
I would like to know the reason for the delay in promulgating the Advertisement By-laws which has taken an unduly long time to get finalization to control the erection of advertising signs and to ensure the safety of residents. At present advertisement signs-particularly neon signs--are erected across public thoroughfares, especially in the more congested main roads. What are the safeguards against accidents from these dangerously placed signs, and what claim a victim from these signs can have in case of physical damage or death resulting from such accidents? This matter of protecting the public is of great importance and should receive top priority attention.
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Before resuming my seat, I want to avail this opportunity to thank the Members of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for their good work through the past year, and for their co-operation and ready services to us Members of this Council which is much appreciated.
Mr. Chairman with these remarks, I have pleasure in supporting the motion before Council. (Applause).
(Mr. Peter C. K. CHAN arrived at this point).
MRS. C. J. SYMONS:-Mr. Chairman, this is my third Annual Conventional Debate and I find it more difficult than ever to find something helpful and interesting to say. I can naturally go on and on about more playgrounds or parks or swimming pools, or more libraries; in fact more of everything-even funeral parlours and cemeteries, ossuaria and columbaria.
Someone said to me after the last Debate-where would the money come from for all the schemes advocated by Urban Councillors? Apparently, like Oliver TWIST, we must face hazards if we ask for more. Having said this, I am aware that in a very short time, say the spring of 1973, these words would not be true. That is, it would not be a question of our asking them, we being Members of the Urban Council, and they being the Government. We would have by then the financial autonomy to raise our own money for our own needs, at least in part.
This is a very exciting prospect and truly a highly responsible exercise. Without being full-time Councillors we would be custodians of the public purse to the extent of being our own financiers.
As the position now is, we can indulge in the luxury of being benefactors, in a sense, of the ordinary citizen, by asking on his behalf for all sorts of facilities from Government, and quite rightly too. Where these funds have been forthcoming, we have taken it for granted, where they have been with-held or released slowly, we have been in the forefront of the critics. In future, we will have to be much more careful in our pet schemes or the promotion thereof, much more astute in our house-keeping. We will have to assess real need, put it in perspective, budget for it, tax for it, and generally make sure we spend the money as carefully as we would our own.
A metamorphosis to be sure; a challenge to be sure.
My colleagues on this Council probably know that in my own very limited way I must start from basic principles when any matter is under discussion. I'd like those concerned to hammer out, if they
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