CO129-629-8 Social policy 1-12-1949 - 31-12-1951 — Page 138

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replanning of Victoria and Kowloon, but the

matter is obviously now one of such urgency

and importance that no time should be lost

by the Government of Hong Kong in tackling it.

8. Next I must refer to the more general

question of Social Policy. I have studied

with interest a copy of the report made in

August 1949 by the Government's Social

Welfare Officer on this question.

That Report made recommendations for

the extension and improvement of the

Government's policy in Social matters in a

number of directions but here again I am

convinced that action by the Government

cannot become fully effective unless it is

backed, and consistently supported by a

vigorous body of public opinion, determined

to press for the execution of practicable

measures to improve social conditions, and

to insist on the raising and provision of

funds by taxation or otherwise adequate to

finance this important side of public

administration, and ready themselves to assist

by voluntary endeavour in ameliorating the

lot of the poorer classes.

9.

That there are many persons of goodwill

in Hong Kong who are endeavouring in one

direction or another to discharge, to the

best of their ability, these obligations, I

do not doubt, and I have noted with

appreciation the numerous subventions made

by Government to bodies engaged in one form

of social service or another. But, I repeat,

this does not appear to me to be enough.

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