XN000022-1996-10-04 — Page 16

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14.

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Question: Diamond Hill and Tai Ham Village.

Governor: Yes, I have visited there so I know the area that you are describing. I am just reminding myself that I think that we pledged, in 1992, to offer rehousing to all urban squatters who were on government land by March 1996. We have offered, I think, about 33,000 squatters rehousing but I will look at the particular issue that you raised as far as Diamond Hill is concerned. If you would like, I will come and have a look and meet you there. But I will certainly have a look at it myself with my Housing Department and see what the problem is.

Question: I would like to thank you for giving me this chance to speak. I have three simple questions for you. Now very often people make an analogy to say that the . Motherland is our biological mother and then Britain is our adopted mother. And many of us in fact are very afraid that when our biological mother abuses us, then we turn to the adopted mother to stay a while, of course you won't welcome us, you won't welcome us to stay for a long time in any case. But when the biological mother beats the son, we just want to go over to your place for a visit just to let things calm down. Would you then accept us? Because if they just want to stay away a few days, let things calm down and then it will be all right. But if you don't even live up to the obligation, then in 50 years time you say you will have obligations for Hong Kong but if you can't even do that then you are not actually living up to that obligation.

The second question: Hong Kong is a clean community now, we have integrity, and I am worried that in future there could be corruption. So for the ICAC, is it possible that you give them more powers? Or what about for the independence of the judiciary, could that be enhanced as well? That will protect those in the lower strata as well as the businessmen. Because we don't want to see corruption; that is a major trauma for society. A place could become corrupt and it wouldn't be desirable.

So, Mr Governor, finally I would like to thank you for being so democratic in Hong Kong, for showing us what democracy is. I wouldn't know in the past that I could actually speak to someone so high up face to face like this. We never had anything like a question-time before. I hope after 1997 we will still have that. And also, Mr Governor, you went on to a radio phone-in programme and it shows that you are very approachable and you care about us, and we really thank you for that. Now in the past I could only look up to see the nostril of senior officials but now when you come here we could actually talk to you, we could shake hands with you, so we really appreciate that.

So, Mr Governor, in things like performance pledges you also make us feel very good because I think now civil servants are much more courteous and more efficient as well, especially for the Transport Department in Queensway, their efficiency has been much enhanced. I really like to thank you and them.