TNAG-0267-FCO40-303-Activities-of-Hong-Kong-Civic-Association-1970 — Page 27

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0.

Allocate a portion of the rates to the Urban Council.

E. Increase the number of elected Urban Councillors from 10 to 14,

F.

the election of the additional 4 members to take place in 1972.

Set up the machinery for the automatic registration of voters

preferably by 1972, or in time for the 1973 Election at the

latest.

G. Change the name of the Urban Council to "Hong Kong City Council"

Ho

once a portion of the rates has been allocated.

Integrate the Housing Authority and Resettlement Department

INTO

a Department of Public Housing under the Hong Kong City

Council by 1973.

2.

Education

There is an urgent need for a more long-term education policy

to provide compulsory education for a nine-year period. This has

to be implemented in two stages: firstly, by introducing within the

next 24 months compulsory primary education for a 6-year period,

coupled with a family assistance scheme for those families whose

school age children must work because of insufficient family income; secondly

by rapidly expanding secondary school places, both in grammar, junior

technical and vocational schools, so that compulsory education will

cover a 9-year period by the second half of the decade of the 70's.

In the implementation of such a long-term policy, private schools

should be given full opportunity to play a significant role in the

education system.

3. Social Welfare