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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
hardly any effort made to establish the roots of a living and practising democracy in Hong Kong. We are in effect one of the most benevolent and progressive dictatorships the world has ever known!
For this, let us be thankful!
In this decade, however, there is a new spirit that binds the hearts of men, whatever their colour, race or creed. It is the spirit of human freedom, of dignity of the individual, of his right to participate in his own government. This is the spirit of to-day's generation that is found in every land, in every city, in every village. It is found here even in this great city of Hong Kong, which has of late captured the imagination of the world.
Caught as we are in the forefront of world events, there is no fear that constitutional advance will not come to Hong Kong. It is an inexorable trend, and we in the Civic-Reform Coalition can but use our sustained and united efforts to stimulate and guide such advance along the middle but narrower road ahead.
I have said that the purpose of the Civic-Reform Coalition is to bring about certain moderate constitutional changes. When the Coalition proposals are accepted by the Colonial Office, it will be time for the Civic Association and the Reform Club to consider dissolving the Coalition. For it is my belief that in a working democracy, two competing political parties, rather than one monolithic party, offer the best guarantee to protect the rights and liberties of the individual. There is today as yet no practising democracy in Hong Kong, and the situation can only be best described as a competition between the Civic-Reform Coalition and the Status Quo group, or those who oppose moderate constitutional changes.
Hong Kong has been a British Colony for more than one hundred years, and many of us who were born here or who have taken Hong Kong as our permanent home have come to appreciate the meaning of the British Commonwealth, where peoples of diverse races and backgrounds seek to cooperate together in harmony and partnership. Here in Hong Kong we have a replica in miniature of the Commonwealth, with our overwhelmingly large Chinese population living and working side by side with residents of different races and nationalities. Could it be that the people of Hong Kong can aspire to a common destiny that is identified with the greater ideals of the British Commonwealth, and which may be expressed in these words of Confucius uttered more than two thousand years ago:
"When the Grand Course was pursued, a public and common spirit ruled all under the sky. Men of talent and virtue were chosen; their words were sincere, and they worked for peace. Thus men did not love their parents only, nor treat as children only their own children. A competent provision was secured for
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
35
the aged, employment for the able-bodied, and the means of growing up for the young. They showed kindness and compassion to widows, orphans, childless men, and those who were disabled by disease, so that they were all sufficiently maintained. Men had their proper work, and women their homes. They hated to see wealth lying on the ground, or hoarded for personal gratification. They laboured with their strength, disliking that it should not be exerted, and not exerting it just for their own benefit. Therefore, selfish schemings were repressed and found no outlet. Robbers, filchers and rebellious traitors did not show themselves, and hence the outer doors were not shut. This was the period of 'Ta T'ung' or 'Great Commonwealth'."
Having said what fairly represents the views of at least the Civic side of the Coalition, Mr. Chairman and I hope the Reform side as well on the issue of constitutional advance, I would now like to review the all-important question of Government's public housing programme, which includes resettlement and low-cost housing.
As of the end of March this year, a total of 380,000 persons were living in resettlement areas and estates. The number of squatters still to be resettled, Mr. Chairman, is 600,000, a much larger figure than that announced by Government five years ago.
In the past, I have vigorously criticized the sluggish pace of the resettlement programme, and I am glad to see that Government has now publicly committed itself to providing accommodation for 100,000 squatters per year. As a member of this Council, I shall do everything possible to assist Government to live up to its promise!
It is perhaps superfluous to emphasize the necessity for the Squatter Control Section to always be on the alert to prevent further unauthorized squatting. By and large, the members of the Squatter Control Section fulfil their responsibilities in an efficient and conscientious manner.
But there are a number of them whom I am told at firsthand information are capable of exercising their authority oppressively and are even prone to corruption. This kind of injustice is all the more oppressive because it falls upon the poor and the near destitute, who have not the means to fight back, except sometimes to go to an unofficial member of this Council, be he elected or appointed. I am, however, encouraged by the fact that the Commissioner for Resettlement himself is fully alive to the danger and I have his assurance that he will take drastic disciplinary measures against those who are caught abusing the powers that are given them.
With regard to the existing amenities and services in resettlement estates and areas, I have been asked by some of the settlers to put forward two suggestions which I think merit consideration by Government.
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Page 26
36
Page 25 of 110
34
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
hardly any effort made to establish the roots of a living and practising democracy in Hong Kong. We are in effect one of the most benevolent and progressive dictatorships the world has ever known!
For this, let us be thankful!
In this decade, however, there is a new spirit that binds the hearts of men, whatever their colour, race or creed. It is the spirit of human freedom, of dignity of the individual, of his right to participate in his own government. This is the spirit of to-day's generation that is found in every land, in every city, in every village. It is found here even in this great city of Hong Kong, which has of late captured the imagina- tion of the world.
Caught as we are in the forefront of world events, there is no fear that constitutional advance will not come to Hong Kong. It is an inexorable trend, and we in the Civic-Reform Coalition can but use our sustained and united efforts to stimulate and guide such advance along the middle but narrower road ahead.
I have said that the purpose of the Civic-Reform Coalition is to bring about certain moderate constitutional changes. When the Coalition proposals are accepted by the Colonial Office, it will be time for the Civic Association and the Reform Club to consider dissolving the Coalition. For it is my belief that in a working democracy, two competing political parties, rather than one monolithic party, offer the best guarantee to protect the rights and liberties of the individual. There is today as yet no practising democracy in Hong Kong, and the situation can only be best described as a competition between the Civic- Reform Coalition and the Status Quo group, or those who oppose moderate constitutional changes.
Hong Kong has been a British Colony for more than one hundred years, and many of us who were born here or who have taken Hong Kong as our permanent home have come to appreciate the meaning of the British Commonwealth, where peoples of diverse races and back- grounds seek to cooperate together in harmony and partnership. Here in Hong Kong we have a replica in miniature of the Commonwealth, with our overwhelmingly large Chinese population living and working side by side with residents of different races and nationalities. Could it be that the people of Hong Kong can aspire to a common destiny that is identified with the greater ideals of the British Commonwealth, and which may be expressed in these words of Confucius uttered more than two thousand years ago:
"When the Grand Course was pursued, a public and common spirit ruled all under the sky. Men of talent and virtue were chosen; their words were sincere, and they worked for peace. Thus men did not love their parents only, nor treat as children only their own children. A competent provision was secured for
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
35
the aged, employment for the able-bodied, and the means of growing up for the young. They showed kindness and compas- sion to widows, orphans, childless men, and those who were disabled by disease, so that they were all sufficiently maintained. Men had their proper work, and women their homes. They hated to see wealth lying on the ground, or hoarded for personal gratifi- cation. They laboured with their strength, disliking that it should not be exerted, and not exerting it just for their own benefit. Therefore, selfish schemings were repressed and found no outlet. Robbers, filchers and rebellious traitors did not show themselves, and hence the outer doors were not shut. This was the period of 'Ta T'ung' or 'Great Commonwealth'."
Having said what fairly represents the views of at least the Civic side of the Coalition, Mr. Chairman and I hope the Reform side as well on the issue of constitutional advance, I would now like to review the all-important question of Government's public housing programme, which includes resettlement and low-cost housing.
As of the end of March this year, a total of 380,000 persons were living in resettlement areas and estates. The number of squatters still to be resettled, Mr. Chairman, is 600,000, a much larger figure than that announced by Government five years ago.
In the past. I have vigorously criticized the sluggish pace of the resettlement programme, and I am glad to see that Government has now publicly committed itself to providing accommodation for 100,000 squatters per year. As a member of this Council, I shall do everything possible to assist Government to live up to its promise!
It is perhaps superfluous to emphasize the necessity for the Squatter Control Section to always be on the alert to prevent further unauthorized squatting. By and large, the members of the Squatter Control Section fulfil their responsibilities in an efficient and conscien- tious manner.
But there are a number of them whom I am told at firsthand information are capable of exercising their authority oppres- sively and are even prone to corruption. This kind of injustice is all the more oppressive because it falls upon the poor and the near destitute, who have not the means to fight back, except sometimes to go to an unofficial member of this Council, be he elected or appointed. I am, however, encouraged by the fact that the Commissioner for Resettlement himself is fully alive to the danger and I have his assur- ance that he will take drastic disciplinary measures against those who are caught abusing the powers that are given them.
With regard to the existing amenities and services in resettlement estates and areas, I have been asked by some of the settlers to put forward two suggestions which I think merit consideration by Govern-
ment.
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