Page 20 of 115
24
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. P. D. AU :—Mr. Chairman, the Annual Conventional Debate reminds me of the Election Campaign. On this occasion it is not the candidates but the Councillors, either elected or appointed, who have the opportunity to make their pledges on how they can best serve the public. I have listened to their ambitions with great interest.
May I lay on the table the Reform Club's Platform which is the time table of the Reform Club's progressive and constructive programme, and on behalf of the general public we shall not allow anything to stand in our way to push it forward.
My colleagues have dealt with a large portion of the Reform Club's Platform and I am only left with a few subjects to speak on; these are Resettlement, Conservancy, Markets, Hawkers, Roast Meat Shops and the proposals to control pawn shops (laughter) which, I am afraid, do not bear any relation to each other. However, there is one basic factor that requires our serious consideration when we are asked to make policies that affect the daily life of over 3 million people of this great city. It is human rights. Our rights to maintain our dignity, to live in sanitary surroundings. Our rights to have an opportunity to earn a decent living. Our rights to live peacefully without fear of upsetting the family budget by being confronted with unjustifiable increase in fees and charges.
In this year's Hong Kong Government Report, Government has finally reviewed the true position of our people and appears on humanitarian grounds to accept the burden of its vast problem.
As to the Resettlement problem I do not wish to dwell at length on the acreage of land that has been developed or the number of people resettled. I do feel very strongly that in the name of humanity and sanitation we should strive more vigorously to reach our objective in housing more of these poor victims of circumstance. Let us see no more fire victims living on pavements and door steps. Let us resettle those squatters that are still facing the danger of fires. Let us remove the roof-top squatting menace into the resettlement blocks. We are here to deal with a big problem of our people and not a mass of statistics. There are laws against cruelty to animals; is there no way to maintain the dignity of man? It is time for us to reduce the density of the multi-storey rooms to enable these people to live with reasonable comfort. We shall undoubtedly require more
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
25
and more resettlement blocks and there must be nothing to stand in our way to go on building. Resettlement is not a charitable proposition but a self-supporting scheme and the repayment of capital is far better than we expected.
To house these people alone is not good enough but we must urge Government to push forward the Resettlement Factory scheme which I understand has passed the planning stage. Indeed, what I fail to understand is the delay in its implementation.
If we find ourselves unable to shoulder these financial burdens we must be very frank and appeal for outside assistance.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has made a detailed survey and it is proposed that US$10 million should be rendered to assist our people. This problem is therefore not ours alone but has the attention of the United Nations. It is hoped that such a substantial amount would be forthcoming to give us a chance to realize a better resettlement programme, to avoid epidemic diseases and the spreading of tuberculosis, to provide educational facilities to thousands of children who are now playing at the gutters, and to give the adult a place to work in handicrafts which they are so willing and able to do. Our people do not ask for luxury but for two bowls of rice a day.
During last year the Council's policies were directed by the public wishes. The new method in controlling Roast Meat Shops, Markets and Hawkers are based on the will of the people which is and will be the true guidance of the Reform Club's policies. In the next few months the Roast Meat Shop showcases will be put in order to avoid contamination and provide adequate prevention against dust and flies. Market stalls will be leased at revised rentals, more hawking licences will be issued, and very sound new policies will be presented to the Council for approval.
The only way to look after the public interest is to respect their opinion and I do not hesitate to say that we shall continue to fight against any increase of charges in public services without sufficient time for public consideration or put forward after the closing of the Estimates Select Committee meetings, as happened in the increase of conservancy charges. We must complete the new collection system as early as possible in order to reduce again these conservancy charges. It is easy to laugh off an increase of a mere dollar or so, but to the poor family a dollar means a day of food supply, or a half month's school fee for a child, or cost of medicine when a member of the family is sick.
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Page 21
Page 20 of 115
24
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. P. D. AU :—Mr. Chairman, the Annual Conventional Debate reminds me of the Election Campaign. On this occasion it is not the candidates but the Councillors, either elected or appointed, who have the opportunity to make their pledges on how they can best serve the public. I have listened to their ambitions with great interest.
May I lay on the table the Reform Club's Platform which is the time table of the Reform Club's progressive and constructive programme, and on behalf of the general public we shall not allow anything to stand in our way to push it forward.
My colleagues have dealt with a large portion of the Reform Club's Platform and I am only left with a few subjects to speak on; these are Resettlement, Conservancy, Markets, Hawkers, Roast Meat Shops and the proposals to control pawn shops (laughter) which, I am afraid, do not bear any relation to each other. However, there is one basic factor that requires our serious consideration when we are asked to make policies that affect the daily life of over 3 million people of this great city. It is human rights. Our rights to maintain our dignity, to live in sanitary surroundings. Our rights to have an opportunity to earn a decent living. Our rights to live peacefully without fear of upsetting the family budget by being confronted with un- justifiable increase in fees and charges.
In this year's Hong Kong Government Report, Government has finally reviewed the true position of our people and appears on humanitarian grounds to accept the burden of its vast problem.
As to the Resettlement problem I do not wish to dwell at length on the acreage of land that has been developed or the number of people resettled. I do feel very strongly that in the name of humanity and sanitation we should strive more vigorously to reach our objective in housing more of these poor victims of circumstance. Let us see no more fire victims living on pave- ments and door steps. Let us resettle those squatters that are still facing the danger of fires. Let us remove the roof-top squatting menace into the resettlement blocks. We are here to deal with a big problem of our people and not a mass of statistics. There are laws against cruelty to animals; is there no way to maintain the dignity of man? It is time for us to reduce the density of the multi-storey rooms to enable these people to live with reasonable comfort. We shall undoubtedly require more
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
25
and more resettlement blocks and there must be nothing to stand in our way to go on building. Resettlement is not a charitable proposition but a self-supporting scheme and the repayment of capital is far better than we expected.
To house these people alone is not good enough but we must urge Government to push forward the Resettlement Factory scheme which I understand has passed the planning stage. Indeed, what I fail to understand is the delay in its implementa- tion.
If we find ourselves unable to shoulder these financial burdens we must be very frank and appeal for outside assistance.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has made a detailed survey and it is proposed that US$10 million should be rendered to assist our people. This problem is there- fore not ours alone but has the attention of the United Nations. It is hoped that such a substantial amount would be forthcoming to give us a chance to realize a better resettlement programme, to avoid epidemic diseases and the spreading of tuberculosis, to provide educational facilities to thousands of children who are now playing at the gutters, and to give the adult a place to work in handicrafts which they are so willing and able to do. Our people do not ask for luxury but for two bowls of rice a day.
During last year the Council's policies were directed by the public wishes. The new method in controlling Roast Meat Shops, Markets and Hawkers are based on the will of the people which is and will be the true guidance of the Reform Club's policies. In the next few months the Roast Meat Shop showcases will be put in order to avoid contamination and provide adequate prevention against dust and flies. Market stalls will be leased at revised rentals, more hawking licences will be issued, and very sound new policies will be presented to the Council for approval.
The only way to look after the public interest is to respect their opinion and 1 do not hesitate to say that we shall continue to fight against any increase of charges in public services without sufficient time for public consideration or put forward after the closing of the Estimates Select Committee meetings, as happened in the increase of conservancy charges. We must complete the new collection system as early as possible in order to reduce again these conservancy charges. It is easy to laugh off an increase of a mere dollar or so, but to the poor family a dollar means a day of food supply, or a half month's school fee for a child, or cost of medicine when a member of the family is sick.
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