WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976
THE GOVERNOR EMPHASISED THAT THE PASSAGE OF LABOUR LEGISLATION SHOULD CONTINUE AND ANNOUNCED THAT IN THIS SESSION IT WOULD INCLUDE PROVISION FOR ONE REST DAY A WEEK (INSTEAD OF FOUR A MONTH), AND ONE WEEK'S PAID HOLIDAY A YEAR, ALSO IMPROVEMENTS IN SEVERANCE PAY AND SICKNESS BENEFIT.
IN THIS FIELD, HE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT'S TARGET WAS THAT LEGISLATION SHOULD BE +AT LEAST BROADLY EQUIVALENT TO THE BEST IN OUR NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES+ EXCLUDING JAPAN.
SIR MURRAY THOUGHT THIS COULD BE DONE FAST AND WELL WITHIN FIVE YEARS. THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATION +WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS CLOSING THE GAP+, HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN OPEN TO CRITICISM FOR NOT DOING ENOUGH OUTSIDE THE NEW TOWNS. +THIS WILL NOW END+ HE PROMISED, AND ANNOUNCED NEW DEVELOPMENTS AT TAI PO, FANLING, YUEN LONG, SILVERMINE BAY AND CHEUNG CHAU.
HE CLAIMED THAT THE RISE IN CRIME HAS AT LAST STOPPED AND THE PROSPECTS FOR REDUCING IT ARE BECOMING BRIGHTER+,
SIR MURRAY PAID A TRIBUTE TO THE MANY THINGS THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE HAD DONE TO REFURBISH ITS ORGANISATION TO FIGHT CRIME AND ENLIST THE HELP OF THE PUBLIC+.
HE SAID THAT IN SPITE OF +HEADLINE-CATCHING CRIMES+ HE WAS CONVINCED THAT THE GENERAL SITUATION IN THE POLICE FORCE HAS VASTLY IMPROVED+. HE SUMMED UP THE OVERALL PICTURE AS BEING +HARD- WON AND ENCOURAGING PROGRESS, BUT NOT YET VICTORY+.
ON THE ICAC, THE GOVERNOR SAID: +1 AM PLEASED WITH
THE PROGRESS NOW BEING MADE. IT HAS ALREADY MADE A VERY CONSIDERABLE
IMPACT BOTH IN CHECKING CORRUPTION HERE IN HONG KONG AND RE-ESTABLISHING THE GOOD NAME OF HONG KONG OVERSEAS+, WITH AN EFFECTIVE DETERRENT FORCE DEPLOYED THE EMPHASIS COULD NOW BE MORE ON PREVENTIVE MEASURES THROUGH COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND CORRUPTION PREVENTION.
THE GOVERNOR SPOKE OF HONG KONG'S PARTICULAR PROBLEM OF HELPING PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN DENSELY POPULATED, HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS
+GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER, LIVE IN HARMONY, AND FEEL SECURE+.
HE SAID +A GRAND DESIGN WAS EMERGING TO COPE WITH THIS PROBLEM COMPOSED OF +MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, THE KAIFONG ASSOCIATIONS, AREA COMMITTEES, SUPPORTED AND ASSISTED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICERS, COMMUNITY YOUTH OFFICERS AND RECREATION OFFICERS+ WITH THEIR WORK CO-ORDINATED OR DIRECTED BY THE SECRETARY FOR
HOME AFFAIRS AND HIS STAFF.
IN SUMMING UP THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT +RECOVERY HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO GET BACK ON TO THE TARGETS FOR OUR SOCIAL PROGRAMMES WITH ALL THE HOPE THAT THIS IMPLIES FOR ELIMINATING THE MAIN DEFICIENCIES IN OUR CITY BY THE EARLY 80S+.
/HE ADDED:
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