22
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL - 2nd October 1969.
[MR FUNG] Motion
Is it the break-up of the traditional Chinese family system? Is it the lack of recreational facilities? Is it boredom? Is it a blind, mindless rebellion against our social values? Does Government know? Government prepared to find out?
Is
In the past, I have advocated the establishment of a Council of Youth* as an advisory body and a Department of Youth as an executive arm. I share Your Excellency's view that regimentation of young people and their activities is undesirable and that separate and differently sponsored youth activities should be fostered and encouraged. But it cannot be denied that a degree of co-ordination among the existing relevant organizations to avoid waste and duplication of effort is necessary; also a central direction and organization is needed for certain mass activities for youth such as sports, youth festivals, com- petitions, etc. These I submit can best be provided by a Department of Youth and I urge Government to give serious reconsideration to this proposal. An increasing proportion of our population is made up of the young. We cannot continue to ignore their aspirations and frustrations or to pretend that their interests have been taken care of with the provision of a few swimming pools, playgrounds or social functions. It is not just a simple matter of crime and punishment. Events have shown that such a policy is bankrupt. Young gangs are roaming our streets with increasing daring and arrogance. We must seek somehow to return them within the fold of lawful society and to tackle earnestly the roots of their disaffection.
The next area of dissatisfaction I wish to touch upon is the inadequate protection for the wages of workers. This is especially important since many of our commercial and industrial ventures are undercapitalized. The sight of disgruntled workers besieging the Labour Department for unpaid wages is a blemish upon our society that we should not allow to continue. If it is allowed to continue, it can only lead to more labour unrest which should impair the attrac- tiveness of Hong Kong to potential investors.
Your Excellency made mention in the opening session of this Council of a Bankruptcy Amendment Bill and a Companies Amend- ment Billt being in draft with a view to establishing priorities for employees' earned wages when a firm is forced to go into liquidation or bankruptcy. But this may not necessarily result in the worker getting a fair deal because there is no guarantee that the employer's residual assets will be sufficient to meet the wages due to him. I recall the view expressed by Your Excellency in your speech here early this
* 1968 Hansard, page 93.
† Page 10.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.