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or in any illegal activities or secretly organizing illicit activities behind the curtain and call upon others to carry out such activities. With this prerequisite, then there might be a large proportion of triad society members surrendering themselves to the police; consequently there will be fewer of those bad elements who will destroy the good youths. So it will keep the chain expansion of the triad organizations in check and gradually bring them into complete isolation.
But will those old gang leaders of the triad societies, who are left out in this exercise, stage a comeback in future to constitute a serious threat to the community? Well, as a general course of events, the public-security authorities will have already got in hand a "black list" of these people and will always be keeping watch on their activities. On the other hand, these old gang leaders can hardly find themselves followers, whether young or old, to order about. The existing problem that demands our attention and needs remedial action is how to save the youngsters who have fallen into these triad societies from eternal trouble.
Altogether, how many youngsters are kicked into these societies in Hong Kong? The actual figure is hardly available but surely appalling. According to what I know, the resettlement estates and squatter areas built in early years were the cradles of the triad societies as well as the hot beds for triad activities. They organized activities everywhere, penetrating into industrial and commercial set-ups and schools. Each of these triad societies has its own territory and sphere of influence. Within its sphere of influence, not only the hawkers are frequently demanded to pay "protection fees", but a large number of cinemas and shops have also to offer them money instead of reporting the cases to the police in order to avoid troubles. Other triad activities include confining young girls, forcing decent girls into prostitutes, making revenge, provoking fighting, taking part in burglaries and robberies, and bullying the weak and small. As a result, the state of law and order worsens, and this indirectly affects the prosperity of Hong Kong. Those who take social problems to heart would deeply feel sorry about this. We, being elected members of the Council, certainly cannot play mute.
As everyone knows, Hong Kong is just like a large "dyeing tank". There is an old saying, "Those who get near ink will be defiled". I am fully satisfied that the Urban Council has done its best in organizing recreational activities for the youths with a view to keeping this "dyeing tank" clear of dirty particles and to providing a sound basis for cultivating them. Nevertheless, we cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that the activities of the triad societies are hindering our work
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for the youths, and in face of such hindrances, we have to smash triad societies by every means. The above-said amnesty will give these young triad members a chance to start a new life if they so wish. I would think that this is one of the methods which may work.
I firmly believe that the above-mentioned amnesty for anyone to surrender himself to the police, if granted, will surely be favourably received by those youths who have gone astray but who are now willing to reform themselves as well as those youths who are found to be associated with triad societies and are being supervised by their parents, family members or social workers. Only in this way will they get rid of their association with the triad societies without being charged and getting a black record. To them, the amnesty is a very valuable and hard-to-miss chance. In this way, the large "dyeing tank" of this community will gradually turn from dirty to clear-with more good men and less wicked persons. The result is that the Urban Council will be able to carry out its youth recreational programmes more successfully and this is something the parents will also be glad to see.
Finally, I have to stress that the Government should invest more on providing more facilities for the youths. I remember that after the outbreak of the 1966 civil disturbances, a board of inquiry, after holding a series of open meetings, concluded that the Government should invest more on the young people. This clearly speaks for the fact that the Government has not done enough in looking after the youths. Therefore, besides making the above suggestions, I also take this opportunity to bring out this point in order to arouse the special attention of the Government.
With these remarks I conclude my speech and support the motion before us.
MR. JOHN MACKENZIE (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I am leaving tonight for a short visit to London and am grateful to the Honourable R. H. LOBO for relinquishing his position so that I can speak on the first day of this Conventional Debate. There are many subjects on which one would like to comment if time permitted. However, one must be selective and I will restrict my remarks on this occasion to a review of those areas of Council activity for which I carry a particular responsibility.
Administration Select Committee, Review of
It has been my privilege to Chair the Administration Select Committee since it was first created under the new autonomy of the Council
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