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might be used late into the night, we must not neglect the call for more sophisticated sports structures without which we cannot hope to stage sports events for the entertainment of our population and also host international competitions of good standard. True, we need the football stadium at Ho Man Tin right now; but, we also need another football stadium located in the north-western part of Kowloon which would serve the fast growing towns in the New Territories as well. Certainly, the major indoor stadium at Hung Hom will be a boon to the community for sports occasions as well as for shows, exhibitions and other projects; but we cannot do without our district multipurpose games halls on which the Government has been procrastinating for a number of years on the pretext that the Kai Tak East project was held up by resettlement clearance work. If so, Mr. Chairman, what about the other sites proposed by this Council? In the interval, costs have gone up enormously, the price the community pays for this penny-wise-pound-foolish policy. Then, if we are to serve the interest of our youth who wish to take up competitive sport or physical education in earnest, we must have as soon as possible a sports centre on each side of the harbour, not only the one that is projected at Causeway Bay but another one in Kowloon as well.
The Council cannot contemplate its vast programme for the construction of these play amenities without worrying about how they should be used. Many years have gone by since we first asked for specialist staff, but the Government has given us the impression all along that, in their view, all that is necessary is to build such playgrounds and they will run themselves. Such has not proved to be the case, as we expected. Instead, there are now alarming reports, as there have been before, that in some areas where such play facilities are most needed they are dominated by bad elements to the exclusion of those who wish to use them. Had our play facilities been properly staffed from the outset, this situation might never have arisen. The effort to eliminate these thugs and bullies will not be easy now that they appear to be entrenched in their respective territories. This matter apart, if we are really in earnest about helping our young people, more so the great number who are not at school, we should not count our pennies; we should set up attractive play schemes and sponsor sports competitions in all these playgrounds for the young to use them under qualified supervision. They would lead a happier and healthier life as a result and would be more likely to become better citizens in the process because of our taking a practical interest in their welfare instead of leaving them to fend for themselves. Sir, need I say that parents would be much more grateful to the Government if their children were cared for in this way than for the Government to salt away Hong Kong's millions elsewhere. Tedium among the young, without school to go to and with time heavy on their hands, breeds mischief and leads to antisocial behaviour in such conditions as we find in our resettlement and other estates. Hence, the Recreation Service our Council wants to set up urgently with District Recreation Officers working closely with neighbourhood groups should be given top priority.
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I said some years ago that there was no glory in amassing a huge surplus each year if a better life for the people were sacrificed in doing so. Indeed, it is open to doubt whether the orderly social development of the people of Hong Kong and their institutions has not been set back by the obsession in the past to put money away more than necessary for our economic purposes. The powers that be must think again about the aim and purpose of our money policy. This time perhaps the lot of common humanity here might be considered too. Lest we forget, the hundreds of thousands of people who live here also work hard to make Hong Kong what it is. Should they not be looked after too and be given a fair share of the cake? Or must we wait until they are in the mood to snatch it all away?
Mr. Chairman, there is a new sense of direction in Hong Kong. It promises to be exciting and stimulating. May it have new values, warm and human, not cold and calculating. Now that we have the means, our energy and enterprise must be harnessed to make life happier for one and all. The pursuit of money is Hong Kong's national sport. It is thought that the Government has set an example in this direction and perhaps broken all records in doing so; may it now change tack and put human values above all other considerations. Let the Government, Sir, invest in the common man in Hong Kong.
I move the motion standing in our name. (Applause).
(Mr. Peter C. K. CHAN left the meeting at this point.)
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (In Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, my address today is in two parts, the first in Chinese and the other in English.
I will speak in Chinese on Crimes of Violence and on Public Housing.
Crimes of Violence
Most people in Hong Kong today regard the rising rate of violent crime, especially among young people, to be Hong Kong's most serious problem.
A man can even sleep on the side-walk providing he has a sense of security. But what good is it to have a home if he is in constant
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