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we talking about and what do we mean by this? 'Status Quo' usually means everything standing still and no change at all. Do we mean that Hong Kong is so perfect a society that we do not even want any improvements? Of course we have been changing all the time, and to think otherwise is paramount to ignoring all the evolution towards localization in both Government and commerce that has been happening at an increasing pace over the last 15 years. District Boards have already been a change, and in fact this Spring's Urban Council election itself is a change too, the world is forever changing, the crux of the matter is how to make it change for the better and not the worse.
When we talk about 'Status Quo' emotionally, we should also get down to brass tacks and define what we mean by it, in other words, what are the practical things that we want unchanged?
Apart from not letting ourselves down and panicking, we need to separate rational from emotion and try to identify the ingredients in our society and way of life that have brought us success. By identifying the ingredients, and then finding a way of preserving them, or even improving on them, we stand a far better chance of achieving the end result of stability and prosperity that the Governments of U.K. and China and people of Hong Kong all want. One important thing we want to preserve is the rule of Law, in other words a legal framework where everyone is equal before the law and no one is above the law, law that cannot be changed at whim. A second ingredient is Freedom. Not only freedom to earn a living, freedom of the press and speech but also freedom to travel and trade on an international basis. Thirdly is we want to maintain our System where both local and international investors have the confidence to invest and take commercial risk, and to be rewarded by profit or penalized by losses as a result.
It is going to be the people that have a stake in Hong Kong, regardless of wealth or race, that are going to determine whether Hong Kong is going to continue to be a success. Hong Kong has been more successful than many places in the world because it is different. Comparing Hong Kong with many countries in the world, like them we have a few very rich people, like them we have a large number of working masses. But in between, Hong Kong has an unusually large middle class that provides the backbone of management and the professions both in government and commerce. What is different is that most of our middle class are an intelligentsia that has, on the one hand, not lost sight of its Chinese cultural and moral background, yet on the other hand has been educated in Hong Kong or overseas under an educational system that is also influenced by Western culture and values. Most of this middle class, of which I identify myself as one, will never get very rich to become a tycoon, and yet are fortunate enough not to have to worry often about getting a job. We are less worried about finding a haven for money or worried about finding a job than concerned with preserving things like the rule of Law, Freedom and a System that is part of our life style. Hong Kong has been built up by our own people and it is the blending of those ingredients in an international environment that has made Hong Kong successful. Keeping it this way is 'Status Quo', and in this respect 1997 should not be a boundary, as we will continue to cherish these well beyond that.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
There has also been a lot of speculation about things ranging from sovereignty to flags and even Governors. But are these the masters of our or are our people and our wishes the master of our destiny? While it is destiny, quite understandable that talks are going on between London and Beijing, I understand both sides say that Governments and flags are there to serve the people and not vice versa. Our current Governor, and his predecessor I believe, would be the last to admit that they were here to be masters and not servants of the Hong Kong public. Let us get down to talking about what practical things we want to continue, and let the negotiating parties find the right formula to achieve it. Historically, British people are renowned for the ability to compromise, and Chinese people are equally known to possess the ingenuity of flexibility and pragmatism. Hong Kong itself is a product of the merging of Chinese and British features at their best. The interests of Hong Kong people are embedded in a successful outcome to the talks, and only rational and down to earth talking can produce productive results. With a will, there's a way. It is paramount that our interests as Hong Kong belongers are protected by both parties, they are common interests after all.
With these words I support the motion.
THE HONOURABLE MARIA W. C. TAM (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, at the Council's last Annual Conventional Debate, I dwelt in considerable detail on the laws governing the establishment of factory canteens as well as the regulations to be enforced by the Urban Services Department. I revealed then that between January and December 1981, there were only 25 licensed factory canteens in the urban area and another 72 were making modifications to their sanitary fitments in order to comply with the requirements laid down by this Council. By comparison, the number of factory canteens licensed in 1982 has risen sharply. From January to November 1982, there were 104 licensed factory canteens in the urban area and 29 in the New Territories. Furthermore, another 130 applications for licences in Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories have been received. These new canteens provide meals at prices cheaper than those charged by restaurants, but nevertheless maintain the required hygienic standard. Judging from the growth rate of factory canteens in the past two years, it is obvious that such facilities meet the needs of workers and are welcomed by food caterers. It is therefore my sincere hope that more factory owners will provide such canteens for the welfare of their employees.
Despite the statistics mentioned and the increase contained in them, many Councillors are still very much concerned about the workers' meal problem in the old industrial area in Kwun Tong. At last year's Annual Conventional Debate, I reported that there were only 9 licensed factory canteens in Kwun Tong, but this year, the number is increased to 49. In spite of the increase, 38
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