HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
For nearly forty years the Kowloon Residents' Association has worked for the improvement of urban amenities there and it is in regular touch with Government on a range of subjects so it only remains for me to mention here that action is overdue on the post office building and the removal of those shanties which now serve as a military transport depot and an extension to Kowloon's postal facilities. If this were done, we would at least create a pleasing impression at the one point in the whole Colony where nearly all visitors pass whether arriving here by sea, rail or air. If the wish for such improvements were father to the thought we would have had a new post office in Kowloon a long time ago and, to boot, a far better planned concourse at the tip of the peninsula but then, if wishes were horses, beggars might ride too.
Resettlement Factories: When I declare my support for Mr. U Tat Chee's plea that more flatted factories be built with accommodation suitable for a greater variety of manufacturing processes, I do so on the strength of an association with Hong Kong's industry which goes back to the time when it was indeed the Cinderella of our economy.
Our increasing dependence on the export of our local products as reflected by our trade statistics, without even taking into account the consequential benefits derived by our import trade as well as the ancillary commercial services, makes it almost imperative that we marshal all our forces in support of our industrial development and train all our efforts on the distribution of our products overseas.
The matter is of such transcending importance as witness the increasing resistance we are meeting overseas that we must clear the deck for action.
If we are to help local industry, we must appreciate that, however we do it out of public funds, we shall lay ourselves open to the spurious charge bound to be made abroad that we are subsidizing it. Nevertheless, other more vicious allegations have been and are being made; so, we must not be deterred on this score.
The pilot project we introduced by way of resettling squatter factories and workshops has proved successful. It seems that a case has been made for the extension and enlargement of the programme if Government is in earnest about its desire to assist in our industrialization in a way to benefit the overwhelming majority of manufacturers who are without doubt industrious and enterprising but woefully under-capitalized. Over the years I have inspected numerous factories and I feel that, whatever the advantages to be gained from other schemes now under consideration, the construction of flatted factories by Government or private enterprise to be let at reasonable rents will not only enable local manufacturers to improve their position but will also bring about vastly better working conditions for the masses. Social legislation has little meaning unless a step is also taken in this direction. So, on both economic and humanitarian grounds, I am all for flatted factories as a realistic programme in our circumstances and not an ambitious one altogether beyond our means.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Policy: It is true that during the year we have pressed for improvements in many directions. It is equally true to say that in most programmes this Council's policy has been met even if sometimes later than we would like.
Nevertheless, it would be well for us not to forget, when putting forward our pet schemes, that there are many other projects differing in priority but all having perhaps just as good a claim on the public coffers. In addition, there is a limit to what can be achieved in a year: there are other factors which contain our possibilities, not only human but physical as well, all of which make it necessary that we relate our preferences to the overall policy for Hong Kong as a whole.
Social betterment programmes are excellent in themselves but often they involve a continuing financial responsibility which may become a back-breaking burden to the taxpayer and a drain on our economy. Besides, public programmes ought also to be considered according to their other possibilities, such as, their contribution to our economic development and whether they do in effect improve the capacity of the people to earn a better living. (Applause).
MR. K. A. WATSON:- At lunch time—a long time ago I listened to a talk by Dr. P. M. Yap on mental health in the community. This may account for the fact that I seem to detect a slight amount of schizophrenia among some of our Elected Members. It was interesting to hear Dr. Lee plead for more Elected Members, while at the same time his leader, Mr. Bernacchi, seemed to admit that the present system of elections had failed, that corruption is rife, and that the results are largely decided by the block votes of certain professions. This view is, of course, shared by a large number of the electorate, and accounts for a good deal of their so-called apathy. But to have these charges admitted by the apostle of democratic elections will no doubt confirm their scepticism about Urban Council elections and in view of this admission, may I suggest that the Standing Orders and Procedure Select Committee considers the feasibility of a completely different system of elections by groups of trades or associations. So that, for example, the teaching profession would elect one member and the C.A.S. another member, and so on. Now, we Appointed Members welcome any increase in the number of Elected Members on this Council, provided, of course, that the number of Appointed Members be increased equally in order to keep parity.
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
For nearly forty years the Kowloon Residents' Association has worked for the improvement of urban amenities there and it is in regular touch with Government on a range of subjects so it only remains for me to mention here that action is overdue on the post office building and the removal of those shanties which now serve as a military transport depot and an extension to Kowloon's postal facilities. If this were done, we would at least create a pleasing impression at the one point in the whole Colony where nearly all visitors pass whether arriving here by sea, rail or air. If the wish for such improve- ments were father to the thought we would have had a new post office in Kowloon a long time ago and, to boot, a far better planned con- course at the tip of the peninsula but then, if wishes were horses, beggars might ride too.
Resettlement Factories: When I declare my support for Mr. U Tat Chee's plea that more flatted factories be built with accommoda- tion suitable for a greater variety of manufacturing processes, I do so on the strength of an association with Hong Kong's industry which goes back to the time when it was indeed the Cinderella of our economy.
Our increasing dependence on the export of our local products as reflected by our trade statistics, without even taking into account the consequential benefits derived by our import trade as well as the ancillary commercial services, makes it almost imperative that we marshal all our forces in support of our industrial development and train all our efforts on the distribution of our products overseas.
The matter is of such transcending importance as witness the increasing resistance we are meeting overseas that we must clear the deck for action.
If we are to help local industry, we must appreciate that, however we do it out of public funds, we shall lay ourselves open to the spurious charge bound to be made abroad that we are subsidizing it. Never- theless, other more vicious allegations have been and are being made; so, we must not be deterred on this score.
The pilot project we introduced by way of resettling squatter factories and workshops has proved successful. It seems that a case has been made for the extension and enlargement of the programme if Government is in earnest about its desire to assist in our industraliza- tion in a way to benefit the overwhelming majority of manufacturers who are without doubt industrious and enterprising but woefully under- capitalized. Over the years I have inspected numerous factories and I feel that, whatever the advantages to be gained from other schemes now under consideration, the construction of flatted factories by Govern- ment or private enterprise to be let at reasonable rents will not only enable local manufacturers to improve their position but will also bring about vastly better working conditions for the masses. Social legisla-
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
45
tion has little meaning unless a step is also taken in this direction. So, on both economic and humanitarian grounds, I am all for flatted factories as a realistic programme in our circumstances and not an ambitious one altogether beyond our means.
Policy: It is true that during the year we have pressed for improvements in many directions. It is equally true to say that in most programmes this Council's policy has been met even if sometimes later than we would like.
Nevertheless, it would be well for us not to forget, when putting forward our pet schemes, that there are many other projects differing in priority but all having perhaps just as good a claim on the public coffers. In addition, there is a limit to what can be achieved in a year: there are other factors which contain our possibilities, not only human but physical as well, all of which make it necessary that we relate our preferences to the overall policy for Hong Kong as a whole.
Social betterment programmes are excellent in themselves but often they involve a continuing financial responsibility which may become a back-breaking burden to the taxpayer and a drain on our economy. Besides, public programmes ought also to be considered according to their other possibilities, such as, their contribution to our economic development and whether they do in effect improve the capacity of the people to earn a better living. (Applause).
MR. K. A. WATSON:- -At lunch time-a long time ago I listened to a talk by Dr. P. M. Yap on mental health in the community. This may account for the fact that I seem to detect a slight amount of schizophrenia among some of our Elected Members. It was interesting to hear Dr. Lee plead for more Elected Members, while at the same time his leader, Mr. Bernacchi, seemed to admit that the present system of elections had failed, that corruption is rife, and that the results are largely decided by the block votes of certain professions. This view is, of course, shared by a large number of the electorate, and accounts for a good deal of their so called apathy. But to have these charges admitted by the apostle of democratic elections will no doubt confirm their scepticism about Urban Council elections and in view of this admission, may I suggest that the Standing Orders and Procedure Select Committee considers the feasibility of a completely different system of elections by groups of trades or associations. So that, for example, the teaching profession would elect one member and the C.A.S. another member, and so on. Now, we Appointed Members welcome any increase in the number of Elected Members on this Council, provided, of course, that the number of Appointed Members be increased equally in order to keep parity.
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