Page 19 of 115
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remember the Press comments on the length of some of the speeches at the Annual Debate of last April, and should like to assure you, Sir, that I shall be as brief as possible.
I should like also to give you, Sir, the assurance that the elected members of the Civic Association will never attempt to bring party politics into this Council, but will work as a team with all other members in the interest of the community. We are well aware that we are here to perform a public function, and unless our conduct both within and outside this Council is exemplary, we will not deserve the confidence placed in us by those who have returned us.
In his speech Dr. P. F. Woo has suggested that the post of the Secretary, Urban Council, should be a permanent one. I fully endorse Dr. Woo's views as I know that the post demands much experience, conscientiousness, tact and understanding on the part of the holder. When Government agrees to this proposal, I think we can find no better man for the post than the present secretary, who possesses to a high degree all the qualities I have enumerated above.
I have on diverse occasions spoken on the importance of playgrounds and parks to the community, and I do not desire to refer to the subject at any length this afternoon. As this Council has already formulated a large scheme for their development, what remains for us to do is to see that the scheme is implemented without undue delay in the coming year.
Government's Resettlement Programme should also be pushed ahead with all speed so that more sites may be made available for low-cost housing, schools, and other developments for the good of the community. By the very nature of their work, officers of the Squatter Control Section are bound to be unpopular with squatters, but I believe that with more tact they will be able to improve the relations between them and the squatters.
Many complaints which I think are justified, have been received by me to the effect that the rents charged for the accommodation to be provided at North Point are too high and beyond the means of the average office worker. These rents are, in my opinion, due to two factors, namely, the high unit cost and the rates. The final decision with regard to rates does not rest with this Council but I feel that the experience gained from our North Point Housing Scheme should enable us to bring down the unit cost of accommodation in future projects.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
23
Office workers and teachers, of whom many have been residents of Hong Kong since birth, and whose monthly salaries lie between $200 and $300 look forward with eagerness to the day when they will be housed in flats costing them no more than $40 a month. This is not merely a dream. It can be made a reality if only we, who as members of the Housing Authority are entrusted with the work of planning, are prepared to tackle the problem with a more realistic approach. Besides, when the unit cost is brought down, the funds placed at our disposal will enable us to build more units to house the Colony's teeming millions. (Applause).
MR. C. Y. KWAN:- Mr. Chairman, it is the convention of this Council that on its first meeting of the year the unofficial members, or at least most of them, address the Council by way of general speeches and not by way of a debate on any subject or subjects. I have often wondered what the reason was for such a convention. With respect I agree with my senior colleagues, Dr. Gosano and Col. Clague, that the existing convention may perhaps be reviewed in the manner suggested by them. For the present occasion I may take the opportunity of saying that let all of us, members of this Council, work whole-heartedly together in the service of the community, and that may politics play no part in our deliberation or counsel. No matter whether we are official members, nominated members or elected members, we belong to one single team with a single purpose, namely the interest of the community. It must be accepted that each and every member is equally responsible for the success and failure of the team, which must stand or fall as a team.
Mr. Chairman, if anyone wishes to indulge in politics, or to raise any political issue or to advocate any constitutional change outside the function of this Council, let him or her do so in the proper place and with the proper quarters, but not in this Council. Let none make this Council a political ground or a forum for party politics.
Before I conclude, Mr. Chairman, I would like to pay a tribute to Mr. P. C. Woo, as the Chairman of the Law Revision Select Committee, with whom I had the pleasure of working together in that Committee during the past year. As its Chairman, Mr. Woo very ably steered the work of that Committee, and showed great understanding of the problems before it. We of that Committee shall miss him and his counsel. (Applause).
Page 19 of 115
Page 19 of 115
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
remember the Press comments on the length of some of the speeches at the Annual Debate of last April, and should like to assure you, Sir, that I shall be as brief as possible.
I should like also to give you, Sir, the assurance that the elected members of the Civic Association will never attempt to bring party politics into this Council, but will work as a team with all other members in the interest of the community. We are well aware that we are here to perform a public function, and unless our conduct both within and outside this Council is exemplary, we will not deserve the confidence placed in us by those who have returned us.
In his speech Dr. P. F. Woo has suggested that the post of the Secretary, Urban Council, should be a permanent one. fully endorse Dr. Woo's views as I know that the post demands much experience, conscientiousness, tact and understanding on the part of the holder. When Government agrees to this proposal, I think we can find no better man for the post than the present secretary, who possesses to a high degree all the qualities I have enumerated above.
I have on diverse occasions spoken on the importance of play- grounds and parks to the community, and I do not desire to refer to the subject at any length this afternoon. As this Council has already formulated a large scheme for their development, what remains for us to do is to see that the scheme is implemented without undue delay in the coming year.
Government's Resettlement Programme should also be pushed ahead with all speed so that more sites may be made available for low cost housing, schools, and other developments for the good of the community. By the very nature of their work, officers of the Squatter Control Section are bound to be unpopular with squatters, but I believe that with more tact they will be able to improve the relations between them and the squatters.
Many complaints which I think are justified, have been received by me to the effect that the rents charged for the accommodation to be provided at North Point are too high and beyond the means of the average office worker. These rents are, in my opinion, due to two factors, namely, the high unit cost and the rates. The final decision with regard to rates does not rest with this Council but I feel that the experience gained from our North Point Housing Scheme should enable us to bring down the Unit cost of accommodation in future projects.
n
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
23
Office workers and teachers, of whom many have been residents of Hong Kong since birth, and whose monthly salaries lie between $200 and $300 look forward with eagerness to the day when they will be housed in flats costing them no more than $40 a month. This is not merely a dream. It can be made a reality if only we, who as members of the Housing Authority are entrusted with the work of planning, are prepared to tackle the problem with a more realistic approach. Besides, when the unit cost is brought down, the funds placed at our disposal will enable us to build more units to house the Colony's teaming millions. (Applause).
MR. C. Y. KWAN:-Mr. Chairman, it is the convention of this Council that on its first meeting of the year the unofficial members, or at least most of them, address the Council by way of general speeches and not by way of a debate on any subject or subjects. I have often wondered what the reason was for such a convention. With respect I agree with my senior colleagues, Dr. Gosano and Col. Clague, that the existing convention may perhaps be reviewed in the manner suggested by them. For the present occasion I may take the opportunity of saying that let all of us, members of this Council, work whole-heartedly together in the service of the community, and that may politics play no part in our deliberation or counsel. No matter whether we are official members, nominated members or elected members, we belong to one single team with a single purpose, namely the interest of the community. It must be accepted that each and every member is equally responsible for the success and failure of the team, which must stand or fall as a team.
Mr. Chairman, if anyone wishes to indulge in politics, or to raise any political issue or to advocate any constitutional change outside the function of this Council, let him or her do so in the proper place and with the proper quarters, but not in this Council. Let none make this Council a political ground or a forum for party politics.
Before I conclude, Mr. Chairman, I would like to pay a tribute to Mr. P. C. Woo, as the Chairman of the Law Revision Select Committee, with whom I had the pleasure of working together in that Committee during the past year. As its Chair- man, Mr. Woo very ably steered the work of that Committee, and showed great understanding of the problems before it. We of that Committee shall miss him and his counsel. (Applause).
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