HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL-9th February 1972. 359
and matriculants of the two universities in Hong Kong, is too restric- tive. Thousands of graduates from Chinese schools who did not sit for certificates examinations and post-secondary colleges in Hong Kong as well as graduates of secondary schools and universities in Taiwan and the Mainland, who are just as qualified as those taking the certificates examinations, are excluded from voting. This franchise should be reviewed soon and periodically thereafter. Perhaps, in time to come, we can even remove this educational restriction when every youngster in Hong Kong is presumed to have at least a primary school education.
Some members of this Council may be of the opinion that Govern- ment should set up a Housing Department to look after all types of housing in Hong Kong. Personally, I do not agree with this view, because I feel confident that members of the Urban Council can do the job as well, if not better. In fact, the low cost housing projects under the Urban Council have earned world-wide acclaim for good management and design on world standards, and it is one branch of service under the Urban Council that all of us can be very proud of.
With these observations, Sir, I support the motion.
MR WANG: Sir, it would almost seem unnecessary for me to affirm my support of the motion before Council today since it has already been made obvious by my honourable Friend, Mr Woo, who, moreover, has also covered most of the points that I had intended to make.
However, I tender no apology for showing my eagerness to share the spotlight of the day since I too had the privilege to serve in Urban Council for nine years, and was also a member of both committees that prepared the reports referred to in this White Paper. I am sure many will share my view that this motion is in a way an expression of Government's recognition of the past achievements of the Council when it proposes not only to grant the Urban Council substantial financial autonomy but also to have it composed entirely of unofficial members-a recognition of which all the present and past members of the Urban Council have good reasons to feel proud.
The motion in effect is one that calls for a vote of confidence in the Urban Council. As has been revealed by Mr Woo, a unanimous vote will be cast in its favour-an obvious outcome indeed when it is known that the special group of Unofficial Members was wholly composed of "alumni" of the Urban Council and its convenor was formerly an elected member.
Sir, we are glad to learn that the Urban Councillors have also expressed their warm support of the principal proposals embodied
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