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debate in the Urban Council are usually limited within a very narrow scope. All problems concerning housing which closely affect the living conditions of the citizens, transport, education, social welfare, and even public security and unemployment which are heavily threatening our society, cannot be openly discussed at the Urban Council Monthly Meetings. Naturally, the people of Hong Kong are not to blame for their apathy towards Urban Council Elections. However, it is a gross injustice on the part of those members of the public who are of the opinion that the Urban Councillors have failed to rouse the interest of the public towards the Elections. Personally, I think the British Government and the Hong Kong authority are wholly responsible for the facts that the Urban Council has today degenerated into a pseudo-democratic system and that the subject-matters within its right to discuss are not concerned with the most important problems of the public at large.
As regards the most serious problems currently confronting Hong Kong, they are undoubtedly economic recession, unemployment and public security which are very much interrelated with one another. On the 16th October last year, His Excellency the Governor, Sir Murray MacLehose, mentioned in his speech made in the Legislative Council that "We are not at all facing a situation of slump like that in the '20s or early '30s. The level of economic intervention by the Governments of the developed world is now so great, and the channels of international co-operation so extensive, and the political pressures on Governments to avoid excessively deflationary situations so strong, that a recession is unlikely to assume an extreme form." He also said, “but there is a fair hope that in our markets as a whole a sufficiently healthy demand will continue to keep Hong Kong busy.” Three months have elapsed now and I do not rightly know whether his words accurately reflect the development of the actual situation. But it seems that the general economic conditions of Hong Kong, and the problems of unemployment and public order have turned for the worse from day to day. Every time when I receive citizens at my ward office, I meet people who have lost their jobs for more than half a year coming to seek assistance. They have been working diligently for above ten years for the community and in the end they are left empty-handed. In a community like Hong Kong, where social security is lacking and union organization inefficient, in the event of mass unemployment, what would become of its social order? I hope that the Labour Department and the Social Welfare Department which are responsible for these problems and the Home Affairs Department which is regarded by the Government as its link with the public, will take these problems into serious consideration so as to ensure that a solution may be found before they actually endanger the security of our society.
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into serious consideration so as to ensure that a solution may be found before they actually endanger the security of our society.
The only places where the Urban Councillors accept complaints from the citizens are the ward offices. Through the interviews every Urban Councillor may come to understand the different complaints and opinions of the citizens of Hong Kong. Although many of the citizens know quite well that very little power is rested with the Urban Councillors who sometimes are not even politely received by those “bureaucratic" government officials, they are still willing to come to the poorly equipped ward offices to lodge their complaints. At least, they may be shown some sympathy there and obtain information that may carry a ray of hope. And some of the Urban Councillors are somewhat gratified as they can offer their services especially to the poverty-stricken public even with hardly any material reward, and often much mental strain. As the ward offices are places where the Urban Councillors can actually serve the citizens of Hong Kong, their work should be greatly extended in future. Except for policy making, many other duties within the scope of the Urban Council seem much more like the work of a civil servant free of charge than that suitable for a genuine representative of the people. If the British Government intends to continue making the Urban Council an ornament of a democratic system, twelve elected members and twelve appointed members may not be sufficient for the purpose. Besides, only the leisured classes are fit to be appointed or become a candidate for election, because, apart from the Chairman, they all are not remunerated for the time spent on public affairs.
As regards the issue over taxation, it is basically an obligation for the citizens at large to pay tax. However, the most important thing is whether documents and regulations issued by the Government are fair and reasonable. For example, Children's Allowance is almost the same in amount as it was ten years ago, and Parents' Allowance was adopted for a short time and then cancelled. The dates for tax payments are fixed at random regardless of the ability of tax-payers to pay at short notices. Such measures threaten and actually cause hardship to the lower classes. On the other hand the Government does not seem to have any means to restrain those with large incomes who manipulated their capitals to escape taxation. Not only would this make the rich richer and the poor poorer in this society, but this would also create an impression and a feeling amongst the citizens that the Government is harsh in taxing the lower classes but is giving a free rein to those amassing great wealth.
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