[MR RUTTONJEE]
wonderfully, even heroically, made it quite clear just where their loyalties lay; or perhaps, Sir, I would be more accurate to say where their loyalties did not lie. Nor was this done without a price; it would be wrong of me--and indeed of us-to let this Debate slip past without due recogni- tion and remembrance of those who gallantly, tragically, gave their lives or suffered injury in the cause of the community against the savage acts perpetrated by the local Communists. 1967, Sir, was also a testing time for all of us individually: some of us were prepared, nay honoured, to stand up and be counted-others, well, Sir, perhaps comment on them is best left unsaid. But my concern is not with these unworthy individuals, but with the mass of Hong Kong people who deserve our every gratitude. We have, and have had for some time, a golden oppor- tunity—an opportunity which may never, ever come our way again: an opportunity to bond together this wonderful community of ours. ... an opportunity to show the people of Hong Kong that it has a Govern- ment which really cares, and really cares, Sir, for the man in the street.
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But I fear, Sir, that we are in danger either of not grasping this opportunity or, indeed, of just casting it away. One or two good positive things have been introduced-not before time-by Government as a result of the disturbances. We have recently heard a great deal about the introduction of a City District Officer System.* All well and good. A good start. But is it in fact going to be pushed ahead with the imagination, drive and incentive that is required? We have also heard something, perhaps too much, about those famous thirty- three items of, I quote, "Labour Legislation". But is this rag-bag of yet-to-be-fulfilled promised action sufficient? Clearly, not by a long chalk. There is a whole field or perhaps I should say a vast pampas, some would say a desert-crying out for action. I refer to Labour- Management Relations. I, for one, am far, far from being satisfied that sufficient drive, guts and incentive are being applied at this vital point. And what of our young people? What is being done here? The list is obviously long. But what I am trying to get at, Sir, is simply this: Is Government, is this Government able and prepared to meet the challenge ahead? Or is it, as I (and many people like me) fear, wanting to put its head firmly back into the sand, let the Old Guard take over again and pretend that the sooner the whole sordid business is forgotten, the better?
I am aware, that what I have said is not going to be pleasing to many influential people in Hong Kong. But I say this to them and I speak as a man who was born and bred here, who has his home here and who is vitally interested-like the vast majority of the people of Hong Kong-in what the future holds for Hong Kong.
* 1968 Hansard, pages 19-21. + 1968 Hansard, page 32.
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