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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The Report correctly made reference to the significant part that the electronic media—no doubt meaning television—performs in the planning of leisure activities of young people. I would urge that any future Youth Commission give its full support in encouraging young people not to spend excessive time watching TV, but instead aspire to a well-balanced life including outdoor pursuits involving recreational and sporting activities.
The encouragement of more outdoor pursuits by a future Youth Commission is all the more desirable in view of the heavy pressure of school work in Hong Kong's educational environment and the crowded conditions in which many Hong Kong families live, compared to other cosmopolitan cities around the world.
The future Youth Commission should not overlook the wide range of entertainment and cultural programmes available at Urban Council venues for the enjoyment and appreciation of young people. I look forward to a close co-operation between the Urban Council and the Youth Commission in making this area of Urban Council's responsibilities more meaningful and in keeping with the aspirations of our young people.
The second area of top priority I wish to comment on relates to what the Report calls 'Social and Political Awareness and Participation'.
I would relate social awareness more to civic education, and in this field the Urban Council has a close involvement through its recruitment of young people to participate in the Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign, in the greening of Hong Kong, and in participation by young people in various Urban Council sponsored competitions, such as essay competitions, sports competitions, drama competitions, etc., which draw out the talents of young people and heighten their social awareness. I look forward to the full co-operation and support of the Youth Commission to this aspect of Urban Council's activities.
With regard to political awareness or political education, the Youth Commission will have a vital role to play in encouraging young people to take greater interest in understanding and appreciating their fundamental rights as permanent residents of Hong Kong. Of equal importance is the need to explain to them, and to inculcate in them a sense of commitment on their part, in regard to their fundamental rights and responsibilities under the future Basic Law.
The Youth Commission in supporting more civic and political education among young people will not only stimulate a sense of commitment in preserving their own and Hong Kong's life style, but will also strengthen their moral integrity and confidence that they will be able to have something to say and to actively participate in how Hong Kong will be governed during the transition period and after 1997.
The Youth Commission will have to strike a fine balance between the needs for development of the individual and the needs for development of the community as a whole.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.
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MISS CECILIA YEUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, the 'Report on Youth Policy' is a very detailed document. It is well known that the society has in recent years paid much attention to the affairs of young people. Particularly, the Urban Council has spared no effort in providing different kinds of facilities and organizing various activities for young people. Since they are the future backbone of the society and are expected to play a major role in administering Hong Kong after 1997, they should bear in mind what the community has provided in enabling them to become mature and responsible members of the society.
One omission in the Report is that young people should co-operate and work hand in hand with the adults to ensure that there is a balanced development of the community. For these reasons, I support the motion.
MR. JOSEPH Y. S. CHAN (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, the Working Party on Youth Policy has made great efforts in preparing the 'Report on Youth Policy' but it is a disappointing fact that the Report has neither formulated a youth policy nor set any new objective or development trend for this policy.
I think that it would be unnecessary and pointless to dissolve the existing Central Committee on Youth and set up an advisory Youth Commission as proposed by the Committee.
In fact, the Committee should conduct a comprehensive review on education, activities, and counselling services provided for youth by various government departments at present and then work out a youth policy for implementation with a view to meeting the actual needs and adapting to changes of our society in the next decade so as to cultivate young 'pillars' for our society.
In the past, there was a complete lack of coordination and communication between various government departments in the provision of youth services as they have their own policies and may use whatever ways they like in doing things without consulting the others.
Our youth policy should centre on our education policy and aim at youth. However, it is highly regrettable that there has not been any long-term education policy in Hong Kong. Only stopgap measures are taken whenever educational problems arise and there are neither any goals nor any direction for our education policy. So it appears quite impractical to neglect our education policy and leave the work of formulating a youth policy in the hands of another independent organization.
The youth policy should be based upon youth education. Firstly, a philosophical concept has to be drawn up as the basis of the policy. Secondly, an ideal should be set as the goal for implementation. Then the goal may be achieved through various channels.
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