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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
series of programmes such as the Summer Fun Festival and various carnivals were specially organized for the youth. I would like to take the opportunity to thank those commercial organizations and individuals who have helped make all these functions a success with their generous contributions either in money or in the provision of venues for holding the programmes.
I would also like to re-affirm that our Committee will continue with the policy to provide balanced and interesting entertainment for the general public, and strengthen liaison with the District Boards through the councillors who sit on the Boards and the three Culture and Entertainment Managers of the U.S.D. It is hoped that by providing proper entertainment for the public, we can help relieve the responsibilities of the C.N.T.A. at the district level.
The Hong Kong Coliseum was able to make ends meet last year. The revenue in the first six months of this year has already exceeded that for the whole of last year (16.2 M in 1984/85 and 18.2 M in the first six months of 1985/86). It is estimated that in 1985/86, the Coliseum will be hired for 225 days at least. As for the Queen Elizabeth Stadium, last year it was hired for 177 days, but this year the situation is less satisfactory. The causes are many. The prohibition of free style boxing events, in addition, has further reduced the hiring of the Stadium. Our Committee is now embarking on a series of measures to increase revenue and reduce expenditure, such as to standardize the management of the Stadium and the Coliseum in order to save costs, and to offer concessionary hiring rate to non-profit making organizations and to lower the surcharges etc. It is hoped that the Stadium will, apart from the indoor sports facilities, soon become financially self-sufficient.
Here I wish to extend my sincere gratitude to members of the Committee and U.S.D. staff for their efforts and co-operation in the promotion and extension of business of the two stadia.
Hawker problems
Hawker problems are always a headache in Hong Kong and different people have different ideas. The Council therefore set up a working party two years ago to study the problems and the related policies. The working party has collected the views of District Board members, civic bodies and hawkers' associations, and with the assistance of other Government departments as well as the academic circles, a report, in the form of a consultative document, was published in December last year. To treat the issue with discretion, the working party suggested that its Chairman should, before the issue of press release, personally brief the other Councillors, Chairman of District Boards, their related sub-committees and District Management Committees on the report, so that the main points as well as the spirit of the report may be accurately grasped and thoroughly discussed subsequently at their district meetings. Unfortunately the intentions of the working party were misunderstood. If much misunderstanding exists, the Council's work in other areas will also be affected.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
As a member of the working party, may I appeal again to the public to express any opinions they have about the report to the Urban Councillors or District Board members within the coming two or three months. Let us make concerted efforts to formulate a realistic and effective policy in regard to the hawker situation. I must articulate my appreciation of the contribution of Mrs. Elsie Tu, chairperson of the working party, whose perseverance and sense of responsibility are greatly worthy of our support and commendation.
Localization and foreign investments
The implementation of localization should not go too far. I am not sure if localization is a correct policy. To maintain Hong Kong's image as an international city, we must make full use of our manpower and what we have to make up for the shortage of natural resource and excessive dependency on foreign trade. For many years, our religion, education, ways of life, commerce and industry have been under the influences of foreign countries, and such influences have enabled the people of Hong Kong to learn from experiences and adapt to changes. In this way, we have enjoyed good progress and prosperity. In a place where Chinese ethics are blended with Western technology, we can easily acquire the best of the East and West. Here people of different nations live and work together and are able to get along in harmony and with mutual respect.
In the years to come, we should maintain links with Western countries, and find out more about the markets and demands of the countries to which our products are exported. One will be doubly successful if he has someone with such knowledge in his organization. In order to maintain the international status of Hong Kong before and after 1997, it is important to promote the learning of foreign languages and to encourage foreign investment which is especially essential for the prosperity of Hong Kong.
Survival and prosperity of Hong Kong
Protectionism, which has recently reared its head, will surely cause difficulties to the developing countries. Of the textiles, garments, shoes and electronic watches, some have suffered from export restriction for as long as 25 years. As for the developed countries, last year Europe's exports of textile goods and garments to the U.S.A. increased by 55 per cent, whereas those of South East Asian countries dropped by 9 per cent. This year Hong Kong's exports are again shrinking.
On the other hand, Hong Kong is a free market flooded with products from all over the world, and there is no customs duty system to balance imported goods and local products. People are free to choose what they like at low prices. However, one day if our exports are strictly restricted, many factories will be forced to close down and workers will have difficulty in finding jobs. Of course this is highly undesirable, but I am not suggesting that we should follow suit to adopt protectionism. I am just trying to remind manufacturers and workers to work hard to fight for fair treatment.
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