TNAG-0353-FCO40-389-Reform-of-local-government-in-Hong-Kong-1972 — Page 92

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And who are these powerful people? Senior civil servants in that

vast Hong Kong type Capitol Hill of the Colonial Secretariat? Members of

the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council? Frankly, I don't know

whom to lobby when some project I am interested in is lost in the labyrinth

of the Secretariat for months if not years.

So it remains for my Committee to urge in the strongest possible

terms for more libraries, more study rooms like the one in the Kowloon Park.

With regard to the latter, my personal view is that groups outside Government

could be made more aware of the great need for public study rooms, rooms

with bare furniture, adequate lighting set in accessible places for young

people to find a haven in which to study. Since November 1970 we have

established such a study room at the Haiphong Road entrance to the Kowloon

Park, where a study room with 282 seats is used to full capacity during

examinations and well used at other times.

After the excellent lunch we have just had, we could all do with

some exercise, and I would be pleased to act as guide if any rotarian is

free and interested; or if there is any sub-committee ready to explore the

idea I would be happy to liaise with my committee. This is a wonderful type

of community service, gentlemen.

You have done me the honour of being a gentlemanly audience, and

I know from experience not to take advantage of your friendly sex; but I

have another brief today. I would like you to forget the tired jokes about

the Urban Council or Urban Councillors; and to take a fresh interest in the

election in 1973; and campaign for registration of voters that will

precede it. The registration cycle is about to begin.

When the Urban Council is given financial autonomy and some-what

greater powers, when we stop being advisers and politicians, we need the

support of the silent majority like you - men of integrity and initiative,

men with sensible and sensitive ideas for the improvement of community

affairs in this city for which we all have some responsibility.

forward to seeing some of you ready to shoulder the heavier responsibilities

of the future, since there is much of your goodwill that we Councillors

I look

/must