Page 17 of 139
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
14
I fail completely to understand and seek to be enlightened on this point. There are many people with firm allegiance to the Colony at present debarred from voting.
Since members in the voluntary services are empowered to vote, why not include the officials of other voluntary organizations, as the civic, labour, Kaifong, clansmen, social welfare organizations, and the like. Their interest in the Colony is unquestionable. They are working for the betterment of our daily life. They selflessly give their time, effort and energy, as well as contributions of money and kind, to the welfare of our community. Why should not they be given a say in the running of our Government?
Basically the Income, Property and Rate taxpayers who have fulfilled their responsibility towards Government should have the privilege to elect their representatives, who should have a say in how the revenue is spent. It is interesting to note Mr. Chairman that in the last election there were not more than 30 Income taxpayers who had the right to vote! This was largely due to the rather awkward procedure in registration, as the taxpayers have to produce 4 years documentary evidence for the inspection, and approval, of the Inland Revenue Department before they could be accepted by the Commissioner of Registration. I am inclined to think that other categories for voters are facing the same difficulty. Property, and rate taxpayers have no say at all.
The present system of automatic complete transfer of those persons serving on the jury to voting list should also be adapted in regard to the other categories of voters. If Government consider this too big a step to take, then perhaps a simple way should be introduced to encourage voters to register themselves. Perhaps a practical plan would be to enclose with the advice a self-addressed postpaid card so that all a voter has to do is to sign on the dotted line and return to the Commissioner of Registration for due registration of his right. I consider this quite essential, otherwise the candidates themselves will have to launch a separate campaign in advance from that of the election campaign to register voters, and the election expenses that are now approved by Government will prove inadequate.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
15
Mr. Chairman, can you imagine many voters living in Tai-O or Sheungshui will go to the trouble of coming all the way to Hong Kong or Kowloon to cast his vote? It means that a voter has to leave his work for the whole day, resulting in the loss of income for the day plus transportation costs to polling station. Is this the way to encourage members of the public to exercise their right and privilege? Is this system consistent with that in England? If not, Mr. Chairman, we must provide more polling stations, or mobile polling stations, in the New Territories and near-by islands to offer every facility to these voters who are so keen in having their say because they have taken the trouble to register themselves as voters. Let us give them a chance to choose their own representatives. Even on the island of Hong Kong itself one polling station in the central district is not enough. Neither is one polling station in Kowloon adequate. I consider that at least three polling stations should be established in each place.
Mr. Chairman, I want to make myself very clear. I am not proposing any major constitutional changes. I merely urge the adoption of a progressive evolutionary process whereby the approach to democratic government does not conflict with the principles as laid down by British democracy, or contrary to the charter of the United Nations. We must be neither optimistic nor pessimistic about the future. We must face our problems realistically. Hong Kong has often been referred to as the Show Window of Democracy. We must see that the display truly represents this ideal, and not only window dressing as represented by a handful of elected members and a few voters representing a small section of the community. Government should guide us in this. Government should aid and nurture the sense of loyalty to the many who regard Hong Kong as their home, and to foster and encourage those who consider this Colony their permanent home. In the past few years our little island has made amazing progress in many fields. In more ways than one it has put itself on the map.
With Government support Hong Kong will go from strength to strength, from prosperity to prosperity. I have made my point very clear and I do wish to know whether Government would like to freeze the present system or to consider any improvement.
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14
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
I fail completely to understand and seek to be enlightened on this point. There are many people with firm allegiance to the Colony at present debarred from voting.
Since members in the voluntary services are empowered to vote, why not include the officials of other voluntary organizations, as the civic, labour, Kaifong, clansmen, social welfare organi- zations, and the like. Their interest in the Colony is unquestion- able. They are working for the betterment of our daily life. They selflessly give their time, effort and energy, as well as contributions of money and kind, to the welfare of our community. Why should not they be given a say in the running of our Government?
Basically the Income, Property and Rate taxpayers who have fulfilled their responsibility towards Government should have the privilege to elect their representatives, who should have a say in how the revenue is spent. It is interesting to note Mr. Chairman that in the last election there were not more than 30 Income tax- payers who had the right to vote! This was largely due to the rather awkward procedure in registration, as the taxpayers have to produce 4 years documentary evidence for the inspection, and approval, of the Inland Revenue Department before they could be accepted by the Commissioner of Registration. I am inclined to think that other categories for voters are facing the same difficulty. Property, and rate taxpayers have no say at all.
The present system of automatic complete transfer of those persons serving on the jury to voting list should also be adapted in regard to the other categories of voters. If Government con- sider this too big a step to take, then perhaps a simple way should be introduced to encourage voters to register themselves. Perhaps a practical plan would be to enclose with the advice a self-addressed postpaid card so that all a voter has to do is to sign on the dotted line and return to the Commissioner of Registration for due registration of his right. I consider this quite essential, otherwise the candidates themselves will have to launch a separate campaign in advance from that of the election campaign to register voters, and the election expenses that are now approved by Government will prove inadequate.
Second, I wish to point out that the practice of having only 2 polling stations is impracticable. I have repeatedly urged Government to consider this inadequacy, but I have not had the least reaction.
і
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
15
Mr. Chairman, can you imagine many voters living in Tai-O or Sheungshui will go to the trouble of coming all the way to Hong Kong or Kowloon to cast his vote? It means that a voter has to leave his work for the whole day, resulting in the loss of income for the day plus transportation costs to polling station. Is this the way to encourage members of the public to exercise their right and privilege? Is this system consistent with that in England? If not, Mr. Chairman, we must provide more polling stations, or mobile polling stations, in the New Territories and near-by islands to offer every facility to these voters who are so keen in having their say because they have taken the trouble to register themselves as voters. Let us give them a chance to choose their own representatives. Even on the island of Hong Kong itself one polling station in the central district is not enough. Neither is one polling station in Kowloon adequate. I consider that at least three polling stations should be established in each place.
Mr. Chairman, I want to make myself very clear. I am not proposing any major constitutional changes. I merely urge the adoption of a progressive evolutionary process whereby the approach to democratic government does not conflict with the principles as laid down by British democracy, or contrary to the charter of the United Nations. We must be neither optimistic nor pessimistic about the future. We must face our problems realistically. Hong Kong has often been referred to as the Show Window of Democracy. We must see that the display truly represents this ideal, and not only window dressing as represented by a handful of elected members and a few voters representing a small section of the community. Government should guide us in this. Government should aid and nurture the sense of loyalty to the many who regard Hong Kong as their home, and to foster and encourage those who consider this Colony their permanent home. In the past few years our little island has made amazing progress in many fields. In more ways than one it has put itself on the map.
With Government support Hong Kong will go from strength to strength, from prosperity to prosperity. I have made my point very clear and I do wish to know whether Govern- ment would like to freeze the present system or to consider any improvement.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.