THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1978
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USE OF CHINESE LANGUAGE IN GOVERNMENT BUSINESS EMPHASISED
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MANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC STILL HAVE THE IMPRESSION THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS ONLY ATTACHING SUPERFICIAL IMPORTANCE TO THE CHINESE LANGUAGE, THE HON. WONG LAM SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
+SOME PEOPLE EVEN HAVE THE MISCONCEPTION, OR PERHAPS IT IS NO MISCONCEPTION, THAT SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS READ THE CORRESPONDENCE COLUMNS IN ENGLISH NEWSPAPERS WHILE JUNIOR OFFICIALS READ THOSE IN CHINESE NEWSPAPERS. IT FOLLOWS THAT ONLY COMPLAINTS PUBLISHED IN ENGLISH PAPERS WOULD CARRY ANY WEIGHT.+
THE GOVERNMENT HAS MANIFESTED ITS DESIRE TO UNDERLINE THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC OPINION, HOWEVER, IF IT DOES NOT ATTACH DUE EMPHASIS TO THE LANGUAGE OF THE MASSES, THERE WILL BE AN EVEN WIDER COMMUNICATION GAP BETWEEN IT AND THE PUBLIC, HE SAID.
THIS IS UNDESIRABLE IN A PLACE LIKE HONG KONG WHERE MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE IS NECESSARY, HE ADDED.
HE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO ENCOURAGE CIVIL SERVANTS TO SPEAK CANTONESE ON ALL APPROPRIATE OCCASIONS, SUCH AS WHEN MAKING PUBLIC STATEMENTS AND ANSWERING ENQUIRIES.
MR. WONG ALSO FELT THAT MORE SHOULD BE DONE TO HELP MIDDLE- INCOME FAMILIES, WHO ARE AT A DISADVANTAGE WHETHER IN TAXATION OR HOUSING.
THESE PEOPLE ARE THE PRIME MOVERS OF HONG KONG'S PROSPERITY AND THE IR CONTRIBUTION TO THE LOCAL SOCIETY IS NO LESS THAN THAT OF THE WEALTHY OR THE LOWER INCOME GROUP, HE SAID.
AT PRESENT, A FAMILY WITH A TOTAL MONTHLY INCOME OF OVER $2,850 IS INELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC HOUSING ACCOMMODATION. ALTHOUGH THE IR DEMAND IS MODEST, THEY HAVE TO SPEND AS MUCH AS ONE-THIRD OF THEIR INCOME IN RENT. AS THE PRICE OF PRIVATE TENEMENTS IS NOW SO HIGH AS TO BE OUT OF THEIR REACH, THEIR ONLY ALTERNATIVE IS TO PROLONG THE PERIOD OF PAYMENT. BUT EVEN IF THEY CAN AFFORD TO PAY THE DOWN PAYMENT AND THE PROFITS OF SPECULATORS WHO PUSH UP THE PRICES, THEY STILL HAVE TO PAY, FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS OR SO, MONTHLY INSTALMENTS OF OVER $1,000, OR EVEN $2,000, WHICH IS HIGHER THAN THE AVERAGE MONTHLY RENTAL.
UNDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES, MR. WONG SAID, WHEN COMPARED WITH THOSE WHO HAVE A LESSER INCOME BUT ARE ACCOMMODATED IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, THEIR LIVING STANDARD IS LAGGING BEHIND, RESULTING IN ANOTHER KIND OF INCOME BEING INCOMMENSURATE WITH STANDARD OF LIVING,'
HE THOUGHT IT ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO HAVE A THOROUGH REVIEW OF THE GOVERNMENT HOUSING POLICY TOWARDS THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE.
ALTHOUGH THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME DOES OFFER SOME HELP, THERE IS STILL A FIXED INCOME BRACKET FOR ELIGIBLE BUYERS AND THE NUMBER OF FLATS AVAILABLE IS LIMITED.
/HE ALSO.....