XN000022-1975-10-23 — Page 4

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1975

CLEAR-CUT POLICY ON POPULATION URGED

DISINCENTIVES FOR LARGER FAMILIES MAY BE NECESSARY, SAYS F.W. LI

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THE HON. LI FOOK-WO TODAY AGAIN URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO ADOPT A CLEAR-CUT POLICY ON POPULATION AND SAID THE TIME MAY HAVE COME TO CONSIDER DISINCENTIVES FOR LARGE FAMILIES.

SPEAKING ON THE SECOND DAY OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DEBATE, MR. LI SAID HE STRONGLY FELT THAT A DEFINITE GOAL SUCH AS A TARGET ANNUAL POPULATION GROWTH RATE WAS A BASIC AND ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENT FOR HONG KONG.

+GOVERNMENT CANNOT AFFORD TO DELAY ANY LONGER IN FORMING A POSITIVE POPULATION POLICY TO BE PROPERLY IMPLEMENTED, EVALUATED AND CO-ORDINATED BY A CENTRAL POPULATION COMMISSION,+ HE SAID.

AMONG ITS MANY DUTIES, THE COMMISSION WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FORMULATING A BROAD AND INTENSIVE PROGRAMME FOR COMMUNITY EDUCATION THROUGH THE MASS MEDIA TO MAKE EVERYONE AWARE OF POPULATION PROBLEM.S.

THE COMMISSION, HE ADDED, WOULD ALSO MAKE IT EASIER TO ASSESS THE LONG-TERM PROGRAMMES FOR HOUSING, EDUCATION, MEDICAL, SOCIAL WELFARE AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, ALL OF WHICH HAD A BEARING ON UNEMPLOYMENT, CRIME AND CORRUPTION.

MR.

LI CONGRATULATED THE GOVERNMENT ON SUCCESSFULLY INTEGRATING FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES AND OPENING NEW CLINICS. BUT HE WARNED THAT THE EXPANSION OF FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES ALONE WOULD NOT BE ADEQUATE TO PREVENT THE PROJECTED POPULATION EXPLOSION.

HE NOTED THAT MANY OF HONG KONG'S NEIGHBOURS ALREADY HAD EXTENSIVE POPULATION POLICIES, AND HE URGED THE GOVERNMENT NOT TO DELAY FURTHER IN THIS,

MR. LI ALSO SPOKE ABOUT THE ECONOMY AND ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MCKINSEY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STRENGTHENING THE GOVERNMENT MACHINERY.

HE WANTED TO KNOW HOW THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WAS PROGRESSING, WHETHER THE NEW MACHINERY WAS FUNCTIONING WELL, WHETHER THE REORGANISATION HAD BEEN AFFECTED BY THE PRESENT ECONOMY DRIVE AND, MOST OF ALL, WHETHER HONG KONG WAS GETTING VALUE FOR MONEY FROM THE MCKINSEY REPORT.

HE FELT THAT A FULL ASSESSMENT WAS NECESSARY AND IF IT WAS SHOWN THAT IMPLEMENTATION ALONG THE LINES RECOMMENDED BY THE CONSULTANTS WAS NOT PRACTICAL, SOME ALTERNATIVES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.

/UN THE ECONOMY