282
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
these would take years to materialize, but with imagination and hard work, young people could be involved in the planning and building of such parks and the projects could get off the ground quicker and probably at less cost. There would be the added satisfaction that they participated in the projects and would therefore have greater concern for preservation of the amenities.
Similarly, new beaches can be more quickly opened up in less accessible areas. Tuen Mun and Sha Tin are being developed into new towns with population figures rising to 400,000 each in a few years time. The coastlines of Castle Peak Bay and Tolo Harbour offer many possibilities for recreational facilities.
My second subject is transport. Although this is outside the activities of Urban Council, but it is a subject which affects practically every person in Hong Kong be they rich or poor. Greater co-ordination and flexibility is required to solve our transport problems. For instance, the siting of housing and industrial estates, schools and hospitals, etc. may be ideal from the point of view of land available for development, but in the past, sufficient consideration had not always been given as to how people are going to travel to and from these areas to work, to school, to shop and for recreation. In order to cope with transport, a comprehensive colony wide blueprint is I understand, being prepared by Government. Different phases need to be worked out, but there must be flexibility in order to adapt quickly to changes in circumstances. Also authority must be delegated clearly to a department to take swift decisive action, otherwise papers are liable to be circulated back and forth even on minor points long after the need to act is apparent.
Pressure on public transport is expected to grow if fuel oil prices and other factors continue to escalate, making it expensive for the man in the street to own and drive his own car. This coupled with a down-swing in the economy will attract more commuters to public transport both on land and sea than during the halcyon days of prosperity. A hard look is required at our resources especially whether we have fully utilized the Harbour which is a highway running between Hong Kong and Kowloon. It is essential that fast co-ordinated action is needed in the transport sector if Hong Kong is not to grind to a halt.
My final point is that abortion should be legalized in Hong Kong. Practically everyday, we hear reports of young girls raped or forced into prostitution. They should not be asked to endure the agony of bearing an unwanted child due to misguided compassion for an unborn
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 161 of 187
283
and hated child at the expense of a living and wronged mother. There will be people who would claim that if abortion is legalized, it would encourage promiscuity amongst young people. My answer to them is that those with such inclinations would, in these enlightened days, have taken the necessary precautions.
With these remarks, Mr. Chairman I support the motion before the Council. (Applause).
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Ladies and Gentlemen, I've been most impressed with your very thoughtful speeches. My congratulations to you and, of course, yours and mine to our two new Members on their maiden speeches today. The Secretary of the Council will take action in accordance with standard procedure. Such parts of your speeches as pertained to the Government or specific departments will be referred to them as appropriate. Those parts of your speeches which deal with matters directly the concern of the Council will be given to the department for consideration, and an appropriate report will be made to the Select Committees or to the Standing Committee of the Whole Council. Of course, it is also up to you to take up in the appropriate Select Committees such points as you may have made and which concern their specific responsibilities. Now, before I adjourn this meeting, I would like to invite Chairmen of Select Committees, as I have said I would do, to avail themselves of Standing Orders so as to clarify the points made in this debate concerning their particular responsibilities. Any Chairman wishing to take the floor, now is the time to do so before we adjourn. Any takers?
MR. JOHN MACKENZIE (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I don't quite know what our procedure is supposed to be on these occasions. It is a new departure. If the intention is to comment immediately on the points raised on administration it is not entirely convenient.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Just to clarify any point that might have been made and which might have been out of focus.
MR. MACKENZIE (in English):-I see, well, there are several points of course today that Mr. TSIN, Dr. WONG and Alex Wu have raised which will receive attention on the Select Committee structures and ward offices etc. But on points arising from the previous meeting, I would like to make two points which, I think, clarify the Council's position to some extent.
Firstly, Mr. C. K. CHAN and Mr. P. K. NG criticized the expenditure on the UrbCo 1974 Exhibition held in November. Mr. C. K.