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Since a good education policy and an educational goal are lacking in Hong Kong, the youth policy is but an empty talk. Nowadays there are many problems associated with young people, such as the problems of shoplifting, soft drugs, the link with the triad elements, promiscuity and the use of spare time.
Though the UC has provided a considerable number of recreational activities and facilities for young people, there has not been any clearly defined objective for such activities and facilities. Moreover, the interests of young people are well looked after in the provision of some recreational facilities but young people are discouraged from using these facilities for various reasons, such as the increase in hire charges of tennis courts at peak hours and the rise in entry fees of swimming pools last year, which have added to the burden of young people.
Therefore, in order to cope with the problems arising during the transitional period of Hong Kong and to develop talents for our future society, a comprehensive youth policy and objective for youth development for the coming decade should be established. Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.
MR. LEE CHIK-YUET (in English): Mr. Chairman, I agree to the strategy adopted in the Report on Youth Policy (Paragraphs 9 and 10), i.e. a Commission on Youth be established as a consultative body to advise various government departments and organizations concerned on all matters pertaining to youths. Basing on the directions of development and working principles adopted by existing government departments in matters pertaining to youth, the Commission will have to further standardize, collate, codify, improve and adjust them with a view to formulating a set of clear and coherent principles as 'Youth Policy' and to further propose that needs and aspirations of youths and the community's expectation should also be incorporated in this set of 'Youth Policy'.
Some people think that youth policy remains more or less the same after 3 years' efforts. Some people expect that this Report will announce a set of clear and complete youth policy formally accepted by the Government. This is, of course, all the better. However, this is, in fact, due to a misunderstanding of the terms of reference of the Central Committee on Youth that published the Report on Youth Policy or an expectation that goes beyond its terms of reference. It is because CCY's responsibility is to ‘examine the need for a comprehensive youth policy', but not to directly formulate a comprehensive youth policy. We, therefore, should not expect too much. The formulation of a comprehensive youth policy is merely one of the proposed functions of the future 'Commission on Youth'.
It has also been pointed out that the main recommendation of the 'Report on Youth Policy' is to set up a Commission on Youth for the formulation and supervision of youth policy. The formulation of youth policy should come before the setting up of a Commission on Youth. It is, in fact, just a debate on the problem of hen and egg. In my opinion, if we have got a hen, we should raise it until it lays eggs from which chickens are hatched. If we are given an egg, we should do the hatching directly. The crux of the matter is not whether we have an egg first or a hen first, since our aim is to ensure an incessant breeding of the chickens and help them grow up.
It is not easy to have an overall youth policy well accepted by all sectors of society due to different value judgement. A relatively longer time is needed for discussion, coordination, compromise and trial before the policy takes shape. Furthermore, an overall youth policy would inevitably, to a very large extent, involve the moulding of ideology and action as well as the contents of civic education. Hong Kong is now undergoing a transition period shifting from a colonial government to a Special Administrative Region government, there would certainly be rapid changes in the relative value judgement. Technical problems would arise if a rigid youth policy is formulated too early. Moreover, it would be politically unwise to do so.
On the other hand, a central commission on youths is urgently required at the present stage to handle and undertake the great mass of coordination and consultative work in this respect, such as the summer activities for youths in Hong Kong, our contacts with youth organizations of overseas countries and Mainland China, consultation and advice on government policies vis-a-vis the youth policy (not necessarily from the point of view of the youths) and the formulation of a comprehensive "youth policy'. So let us set up a standing 'Commission on Youth', to be held responsible for the various kinds of work mentioned above.
Lastly, I would like to point out that in the recommendation contained in the 'Report on Youth Policy', there is not enough emphasis on the need for educating our youths about the tradition and culture of our country. Moreover, it is inappropriate and too rash to deny the need for setting up a youth committee at district level.
Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.
MR. LO KING-MAN (in English): Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of Culture Select Committee I rise to speak literally at the back of the envelope in favour of the motion. Two days ago I officiated the opening of the Council's Summer Fun Fair at Victoria Park which inaugurated a 44-day programmes specifically designed for the enjoyment of young people and for children to share with their parents. From 22 July to 7 August this year the Council will be offering an International Arts Carnival (AK) featuring particular events again to provide suitable cultural performances for children. These are the two timely examples of the Urban Council traditionally concerned and keen active interest in the youth of Hong Kong in catering to their needs and in caring for
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