XN000022-1995-02-14 — Page 11

One of the reasons is that in the UK, proper housing rights had already been introduced in the 80's. Governor, you have done very well in the UK to improve peoples' living conditions and the environment. That's why you're highly regarded by us all. However, in you past policy statements, you widely publicised your efforts to fight with China over things which you well knew could not be achieved, while not showing much interest in things which could be done such as the introduction of housing rights. According to the resolution made in a United Nations document on December 12, 1991, Britain was one of the signatories. But, unfortunately, the Hong Kong Government had not sent any representatives to sign this covenant on housing rights. This results in the absence of any reasonable protection of Hong Kong peoples' living conditions. Therefore, I would like to see that you, the Governor, introduce the above International Covenant into Hong Kong in your fourth policy statement to protect the housing rights of the Hong Kong people, so that they can really live happily.

Governor: I think as you probably know, the International Covenant on Social and Economic rights does ensure that the Hong Kong Government is properly examined and properly questioned about its social policies including housing, just as reporting to the UN on the International Covenant on Human and Political rights, ensures that we are questioned about issues like progress of democratisation, rule of law and so on. I don't think that there is any lack of International interest in and scrutiny about our welfare policies and our social policies, and in that respect we are in exactly the same position as Canada, or Australia, or Japan or other well off communities. But let me without getting involved in a discussion on the responsibilities of the last Colonial Governor and you're in luck because I am the last one, without getting involved in that can I just say a word about public housing, the campaigns to ensure that people have a decent roof over their head and egalatarianism.

I've got very little doubt that the main social ambition of any family is to be decently housed and I have very little doubt for our improvement in health statistics for example in Hong Kong is the improvement in public housing. People very often say that Hong Kong is a great example of free market economics, well up to a point, but it is also a great tribute to social intervention by government in improving peoples' housing conditions, great social revolution in the sixties and seventies and eighties. I do think that in pressing for better housing for everyone it is important to remember a number of factors, some of which I mentioned in my speech.