HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL-2nd October 1969.
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portation problem can be partially reduced. Some of the extra primary school rooms can be used for either vocational training classes or play-centres for the younger children whose parents have to work and whose elder brothers and sisters are attending schools.
Two other aspects of housing must be seriously reviewed, and that is the size of the flats and the size of individual families qualified for the flats. Many of the big flats for 8 or 9 persons are very slow in letting, because the younger generation prefers small families and small family units without their in-laws. The requirement for the future would have to be smaller flats for young couples with new families and each child should be considered as one unit to avoid over-crowding within a few short years. On the one hand we spend nearly 2 million dollars a year to promote family planning as a means towards better living, but on the other hand, we find some ridiculous situations that post certain hindrance to this movement. Many families refuse to accept family planning advice because they need additional children in order to qualify for housing in Government married quarters or other subsidized housing, for decantation to larger accommodations, and for additional personal tax exemption. I also find the generous allowances for maternity leaves for the lower grade staff in Government service, that is 4 maternity leaves of 3 months each on full pay and 4 on half-pay, grossly excessive. The bulk of the Government staff is within this structure and they are the ones who can least afford to have a large family. Obviously, we are working at cross purposes in these areas and obviously we need to overhaul some of our policies.
It would be the understatement of the year if I said that I am happy to see the Marriage Reform Bill has finally come out in print for public discussion. So far, the public reaction has been favourable. Even our elders in the New Territories have come around to understand the advantages of a registered monogamous marriage system. I am confident that this time we need not have to wait for any further retire- ments from this Council to see this bill become law. However, I can also foresee that a great deal of follow-up work has to be done in .the preparation for implementation of this very bill. We shall need many more Marriage Registries, also some machinery to process the registration of past marriages and the issuance of certificates required for international travel, emigration and other legal matters. No doubt there will be many family disputes awaiting settlement or arising out of this bill. At present, some of the more clear cut cases seek resolution in the District Courts, others go to the Secretariat for Home Affairs which we know has no legal authority necessary for effective solutions. The necessity for the establishment of Family Courts is of vital importance if this bill is to function effectively, and if the sanctity of marriage is to be preserved and family disagreements
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