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Wednesday, March 15, 1972
"I understand that our police force is still under strength and
the recent increases in salary for the rank and file may help to speed up
recruitment," she said.
Citing examples of permissiveness, Mrs. Li said illegal hawkers
were allowed to clutter up the streets and front doors; litterbugs polluted
the entire Colony, and squatters were everywhere.
"The public would like to see heavier penalties imposed by the
courts on lawbreakers, the Urban Council would welcome heavier fines for
litterbugs, and other departments would like to have power to cancel licences
of businesses for failure to conform to the conditions stipulated in their
permits.
Permissive Attitude
"Unless we change this permissive attitude on the part of Government,
the judiciary and the public, we are encouraging disrespect for law and
order," Mrs. Li said.
On youth and education, Mrs. Li said that since at least half the
population were young people below the age of 21, emphasis of service had
to be placed on them and geared to their need,
"Our education system must be streamlined to fit them for work
when they leave school without any time gap in between. It should be our
ultimate aim to carry a young man up to the age of 17 or 18," she stressed.
She pointed out that Government was vigorously pursuing its policy
of providing assisted places for at least half the children within the age
group of 12-14.
It was