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a proper course on public relation. If the Urban Services Department will take a lead on this new approach, other Government Departments will follow, and in so doing will create a new image of our Government.
Before I leave this subject of Government image, I would like to say a few words on another image which Government is creating at this moment. I refer to the present Government policy on the renewal premium on Crown leases. I am given to understand that premiums asked for by Government for renewing Crown leases in certain parts of the Colony vary from day to day in accordance with the market value of the land. This policy is at present creating an impression that Government is just as much an opportunist as some of our real estate speculators. I appreciate that Government must try its best to get as much revenue as possible. But are there no better ways of doing so? Where matters of policy are concerned, Government should be above reproach. It should be likened to the Northern Star, which course of orbit people can take for granted and which constancy people have the explicit faith and trust. If Government were to be guided purely by expediency, then people's faith in the Government would be undermined.
In my speech at the last Housing Authority Annual Meeting, I suggested that Housing Authority should build flats to be sold outright to prospective home owners. I said that such flats could be brought within the reach of those within the income bracket of $900-$1,500, if they could be paid for by instalments running from 10 to 12 years.
I am, therefore, very pleased to learn from the Honourable Financial Secretary's Budget Speech that Government will soon explore two possible sources for financing home ownership for the lower-middle and middle income groups.
I welcome Government's legislation on Rent Increases (Domestic Premises) Control Bill. This legislation will serve to safeguard tenants from being unduly victimized by merciless landlords. But the consensus of public opinion is that shop premises should also have been included under this Bill.
There are several good reasons to justify the inclusion of shop premises. Firstly, most of the smaller shop premises are family operated, and therefore are used as much for domestic purpose as for business. Secondly, all shop premises cater for two classes of needs; they either cater for the consumer needs of the local community or for the tourists' needs. Unrestricted increases in rent on the former will push up prices on consumer goods and, therefore, the cost of living for the local community; whereas unrestricted increases on the latter will do much to damage our tourist trade. We must not try to drive our tourists away, or to discourage them from spending their money here because of high prices. Already some tourists have started to complain about our prices having gone up since they were last here. If we are not careful, we might some day lose all of this trade, which the Honourable Mr. W. C. G. KNOWLES has termed as our "second largest export”.
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17
Finally, I would like to put in a plea for our small shop-keepers. They constitute a very important section of our community, and yet because of their smallness and lack of collective bargaining power, they are the most helpless victims of the unscrupulous landlords. Many of them put all they have into starting a small shop, and once they moved in they became sitting ducks for their landlords. They are helpless to resist future rent increases usually done by piece-meal. If they decide to move out, they will stand to lose their last cent. If they choose to stay on they will have to turn over the last cent of their earnings to their greedy landlords.
During the Budget Debate, the Honourable Mr. Y. K. KAN, speaking on the subject of public transport, asked Government not to close its mind on the possibility of introducing some new public transport systems. In my opinion not only must Government not close its mind too, but should actively engage in the pursuit of some new public transport systems. At the present rate of growth in traffic, it is quite apparent that the existing facilities will never be able to cope with the future needs. This is especially true for Kowloon and New Territories, where the population is twice as many and the area 12 times as big as the Island, and yet are only served by one privately operated bus service.
The Honourable Mr. Y. K. KAN went on to say that Government had accepted by implication that the public transportation companies were providing reasonable services, because its power to require for better services had never been used. But should Government be the sole judge on this matter? Should not the public who use the services everyday have something to say as well? And if they are given a say then judging by the number of complaints and outcries that are sent to the newspapers everyday by the discontented commuters, the public's judgment has indeed been clearly pronounced.
Since more than 90% of our citizens have to travel to and from work by public transport everyday, any loss of their time by delays because of inadequate services means loss of production for the Colony as a whole. Rapid local mass transit is as essential to the economic growth of the Colony as the new Airport. Government must act without any further delay.
In my speech this afternoon, if I have touched on subjects which are strictly outside the province of this Council, I do not intend, Sir,
Page 17 of 194
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is not present in the original text, so it is not included.F194
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a proper course on public relation. If the Urban Services Department will take a lead on this new approach, other Government Departments will follow, and in so doing will create a new image of our Government.
Before I leave this subject of Government image, I would like to say a few words on another image which Government is creating at this moment. I refer to the present Government policy on the renewal premium on Crown leases. I am given to understand that premiums asked for by Government for renewing Crown leases in certain parts of the Colony vary from day to day in accordance with the market value of the land. This policy is at present creating an impression that Government is just as much an opportunist as some of our real estate speculators. I appreciate that Government must try its best to get as much revenue as possible. But are there no better ways of doing so? Where matters of policy are concerned, Government should be above reproach. It should be likened to the Northern Star, which course of orbit people can take for granted and which constancy people have the explicit faith and trust. If Government were to be guided purely by expediency, then people's faith in the Government would be undermined.
In my speech at the last Housing Authority Annual Meeting, I suggested that Housing Authority should build flats to be sold outright to prospective home owners. I said that such flats could be brought within the reach of those within the income bracket of $900-$1,500, if they could be paid for by instalments running from 10 to 12 years.
I am, therefore, very pleased to learn from the Honourable Financial Secretary's Budget Speech that Government will soon explore two possible sources for financing home ownership for the lower- middle and middle income groups.
I welcome Government's legislation on Rent Increases (Domestic Premises) Control Bill. This legislation will serve to safeguard tenants from being unduly victimized by merciless landlords. But the con- sensus of public opinion is that shop premises should also have been included under this Bill.
There are several good reasons to justify the inclusion of shop premises. Firstly, most of the smaller shop premises are family operated, and therefore are used as much for domestic purpose as for business. Secondly, all shop premises cater for two classes of needs; they either cater for the consumer needs of the local community or for the tourists' needs. Unrestricted increases in rent on the former will push up prices on consumer goods and, therefore, the cost of living for the local community; whereas unrestricted increases on the latter will do much to damage our tourist trade. We must not try to drive our tourists away, or to discourage them from spending their money
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
17
here because of high prices. Already some tourists have started to complain about our prices having gone up since they were last here. If we are not careful, we might some day lose all of this trade, which the Honourable Mr. W. C. G. KNOWLES has termed as our "second largest export”.
Finally, I would like to put in a plea for our small shop-keepers. They constitute a very important section of our community, and yet because of their smallness and lack of collective bargaining power, they are the most helpless victims of the unscrupulous landlords. Many of them put all they have into starting a small shop, and once they moved in they became sitting ducks for their landlords. They are helpless to resist future rent increases usually done by piece-meal. If If they decide to move out, they will stand to lose their last cent. they choose to stay on they will have to turn over the last cent of their earnings to their greedy landlords.
During the Budget Debate, the Honourable Mr. Y. K. KAN, speaking on the subject of public transport, asked Government not to close its mind on the possibility of introducing some new public transport systems. In my opinion not only must Government not close its mind too, but should actively engage in the pursuit of some new public transport systems. At the present rate of growth in traffic, it is quite apparent that the existing facilities will never be able to cope with the future needs. This is especially true for Kowloon and New Territories, where the population is twice as many and the area 12 times as big as the Island, and yet are only served by one privately operated bus service.
The Honourable Mr. Y. K. KAN went on to say that Government had accepted by implication that the public transportation companies were providing reasonable services, because its power to require for better services had never been used. But should Government be the sole judge on this matter? Should not the public who use the services everyday have something to say as well? And if they are given a say then judging by the number of complaints and outcries that are sent to the newspapers everyday by the discontented commuters, the public's judgment has indeed been clearly pronounced.
Since more than 90% of our citizens have to travel to and from work by public transport everyday, any loss of their time by delays because of inadequate services means loss of production for the Colony as a whole. Rapid local mass transit is as essential to the economic growth of the Colony as the new Airport. Government must act without any further delay.
In my speech this afternoon, if I have touched on subjects which are strictly outside the province of this Council, I do not intend, Sir,
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