57
Page 29 of 107
Page 29 of 107
42
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
In this connexion, Mr. Chairman, the alacrity with which our Official champion took up our cause set an all-time record for Official reaction to Unofficial protest. It gives the lie, Mr. Chairman, to the story which has been doing the rounds that he, in another atmosphere than that of this Council, was recently caught napping, virtually and not idiomatically. At least we, the Urban Councillors, if not the Honourable Councillors, are wholly sympathetic with him. We think that, in that magnificent but decadently luxurious environment by vivid and striking contrast to our own bare and spartan surroundings, he had every cause indeed to give that soporific impression. (Laughter). I agree with Mr. Cheong-Leen nevertheless that we have come up in the world today, Mr. Chairman, by virtue of the signs you have put before our respective places.
(The reference was to new plastic name boards on the table)
Health Education: This Select Committee has more than proved that it is in great earnest. It is its avowed object to persuade the people that theirs is perhaps the most important role in the all-out effort to make Hong Kong a healthier place in which to live. The need to create a proper attitude on the part of the public, particularly the young, towards hygiene and sanitation is of paramount importance in the work of the Council. Plans have been laid with care and in a manner that offers the best chance of lasting success. Many difficulties abound here for sure and Health Education must perforce be a long-term programme which must be carried out by persistent effort and unceasing patience. But the people must co-operate because, for example, so much can really be achieved by the public showing even a small degree of forbearance in such a simple matter as the present traditional propensity for indiscriminately disposing of litter and refuse.
Housing: Last year I made a plea for the poor Hong Kong resident as distinguished from the squatter who has to be resettled for many reasons all too well known by now to require elaboration at this time. My man has been for so long a resident here that he can be safely set aside, as it were, until a later date. His day has not come. It seems that it is now no nearer than it ever was.
Mr. Chairman, I have openly expressed my admiration for the tremendous good which our resettlement programme has achieved. Both in concept and execution it gives us in Hong Kong every cause for satisfaction. Yet the time has come, in the view of many thinking people here, for us to cast the net much wider than we have done so that we may benefit the thousands of very poor people who are not now eligible but who in fact are in many cases even worse off than the squatters. (Hear, hear).
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
43
So, Mr. Chairman, in the Estimates Debate in February I pursued the need to re-examine our policy. I am inclined to the view that in the improved resettlement-type of housing must lie our hope to accommodate realistically the overwhelming majority of our population who now live on the pavements and the roof-tops and in cubicles and bedspaces. Fully appreciative as I am of all the many difficulties which are being overcome slowly but surely, I think nevertheless that we must look ahead and plan for five years hence when I believe the resettlement programme as at present undertaken should have been completed. For this reason, I am pleased that a special committee or study group of experts has been set up recently by the Resettlement and Clearance Policy Select Committee.
Recreational Facilities: The Council has shown its strong interest in securing more and better parks and playgrounds in as many districts as possible. Very good progress has been made and there are many projects to be carried out in turn. Advantage is also being taken of such small plots as are capable of development as sitting-out areas; as a consequence, in all districts there will be eventually such amenities for the residents. I think the Select Committee is to some extent handicapped in its work by the lack of a master plan covering the existing and proposed green areas for the whole of urban Hong Kong and Kowloon. Although I asked for it and was assured that there was one, yet some time has elapsed and this mysterious plan has not materialized.
It would not be amiss for me to mention here that with all the goodwill the Council has shown it will still be many years before Hong Kong matches in recreational amenities what I have seen elsewhere in most cities of our importance. This being the case it surprises me, to take only one instance, that Government appears to be so truly penny-pinching in its acceptance of responsibility to reprovision the facilities for Softball instead of seizing every genuine opportunity to improve sports facilities here.
In this context I suggest that a fresh and thorough survey of sports facilities be instituted. It is several years since this was done and much water has since flowed under the bridge or over the tunnel or by the western approaches, as you will.
Urban Amenities in Kowloon: Even though the rapid development of Kowloon has no doubt made many, if not all plans out of date, yet the K.R.A. has the impression that Government does not seem to be in a hurry to commit itself on the full development of the railway lands irrespective of the decision to be taken on the station itself. Besides, there are several outstanding projects falling within the broad acceptation of the term, urban amenities, to which this Council might well turn its attention.
57
Page 29 of 107
Page 29 of 107
42
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
In this connexion, Mr. Chairman, the alacrity with which our Official champion took up our cause set an all-time record for Official reaction to Unofficial protest. It gives the lie, Mr. Chairman, to the story which has been doing the rounds that he, in another atmosphere than that of this Council, was recently caught napping, virtually and not idiomatically. At least we, the Urban Councillors, if not the Honourable Councillors, are wholly sympathetic with him. We think that, in that magnificent but decadently luxurious environment by vivid and striking contrast to our own bare and spartan surroundings, he had every cause indeed to give that soporific impression. (Laughter). I agree with Mr. Cheong-Leen nevertheless that we have come up in the world today, Mr. Chairman, by virtue of the signs you have put before our respective places.
(The reference was to new plastic name boards on the table)
Health Education: This Select Committee has more than proved that it is in great earnest. It is its avowed object to persuade the people that theirs is perhaps the most important role in the all-out effort to make Hong Kong a healthier place in which to live. The need to create a proper attitude on the part of the public, particularly the young, towards hygiene and sanitation is of paramount importance in the work of the Council. Plans have been laid with care and in a manner that offers the best chance of lasting success. Many difficulties abound here for sure and Health Education must perforce be a long- term programme which must be carried out by persistent effort and unceasing patience. But the people must co-operate because, for ex- ample, so much can really be achieved by the public showing even a small degree of forbearance in such a simple matter as the present traditional propensity for indiscriminately disposing of litter and refuse.
Housing: Last year I made a plea for the poor Hong Kong resident as distinguished from the squatter who has to be resettled for many reasons all too well known by now to require elaboration at this time. My man has been for so long a resident here that he can be safely set aside, as it were, until a later date. His day has not come. It seems that it is now no nearer than it ever was.
Mr. Chairman, I have openly expressed my admiration for the tremendous good which our resettlement programme has achieved. Both in concept and execution it gives us in Hong Kong every cause for satisfaction. Yet the time has come, in the view of many thinking people here, for us to cast the net much wider than we have done so that we may benefit the thousands of very poor people who are not now eligible but who in fact are in many cases even worse off than the squatters. (Hear, hear).
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
43
So, Mr. Chairman, in the Estimates Debate in February I pursued the need to re-examine our policy. I am inclined to the view that in the improved resettlement-type of housing must lie our hope to accom- modate realistically the overwhelming majority of our population who now live on the pavements and the roof-tops and in cubicles and bedspaces. Fully appreciative as I am of all the many difficulties which are being overcome slowly but surely, I think nevertheless that we must look ahead and plan for five years hence when I believe the resettlement programme as at present undertaken should have been completed. For this reason, I am pleased that a special committee or study group of experts has been set up recently by the Resettlement and Clearance Policy Select Committee.
Recreational Facilities: The Council has shown its strong interest in securing more and better parks and playgrounds in as many districts as possible. Very good progress has been made and there are many projects to be carried out in turn. Advantage is also being taken of such small plots as are capable of development as sitting-out areas; as a consequence, in all districts there will be eventually such amenities for the residents. I think the Select Committee is to some extent handicapped in its work by the lack of a master plan covering the existing and proposed green areas for the whole of urban Hong Kong and Kowloon. Although I asked for it and was assured that there was one, yet some time has elapsed and this mysterious plan has not materialized.
It would not be amiss for me to mention here that with all the goodwill the Council has shown it will still be many years before Hong Kong matches in recreational amenities what I have seen elsewhere in most cities of our importance. This being the case it surprises me, to take only one instance, that Government appears to be so truly penny- pinching in its acceptance of responsibility to reprovision the facilities for Softball instead of seizing every genuine opportunity to improve sports facilities here.
In this context I suggest that a fresh and thorough survey of sports facilities be instituted. It is several years since this was done and much water has since flowed under the bridge or over the tunnel or by the western approaches, as you will.
Urban Amenities in Kowloon: Even though the rapid develop- ment of Kowloon has no doubt made many, if not all plans out of date, yet the K.R.A. has the impression that Government does not seem to be in a hurry to commit itself on the full development of the railway lands irrespective of the decision to be taken on the station itself. Besides, there are several outstanding projects falling within the broad acceptation of the term, urban amenities, to which this Council might well turn its attention.
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