TNAG-0259-FCO40-295-Legislation-for-prevention-of-bribery-in-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 94

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 2nd October 1969.

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dealing with this aspect of the matter at length later but I will however say this. Since the UMELCO* Office was set up over two years ago we have received a large number of complaints and representations from members of the public. In pursuing our enquiries we have encountered no difficulty with any Head of Department. On the con- trary they have been most forthcoming and helpful in furnishing us with the information we seek. To assist us in our task and, with the blessing of the Financial Committee given yesterday, we propose soon to advertise for a person of wide administrative experience to be our Administrative Secretary. With the strengthening of the organiza- tion of the UMELCO Office we can deal with public complaints more adequately than in the past.

Sir, you spoke of the plans for further achievement and you expressed your confidence that the 1970's will see yet further progress. We, the Unofficial Members, share your confidence and to that end we pledge you our fullest support.

Sir, I support the motion.

MR FUNG HON-CHU:-Your Excellency, at a time when the question of having an ombudsman for Hong Kong is again being mooted, I feel it would be appropriate for me to confine my remarks today to drawing attention to some areas of public dissatisfaction. I hope that in so doing an opportunity might be given to Government to demonstrate in a positive and responsive manner that effective means do exist both for the rectification of individual grievances as well as more general complaints.

The first area of public dissatisfaction or disquiet to which I would like to draw attention is the violence in our streets, particularly in the poorer sections of our city. A large number of daring crimes has recently taken place, crimes committed in broad daylight with a degree of violence, to which our orderly society is unaccustomed. The public is justifiably nervous because it is uncertain as to whether such violence marks only a temporary aberration or whether our police force is losing the initiative in the fight against crime. The highly publicized resignations of a number of senior police officers have also added to the alarm and confusion.

Another aspect of the violence in our streets causing concern is the presence of gangs of young thugs. Hardly a day goes by without newspapers reporting a case of someone being attacked or robbed by teenage gangsters. What forces have been responsible for bringing forth such young gangs in our midst? Is it the failure of our educa- tional system? Is it the lack of economic opportunity in our society?

* Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils.