Page 227 of 312
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
efforts be spared to have the by-laws finalized, passed and put into effect before the end of next year.
The Aims and Objects of the Council for the ensuing year relative to advertisements, as set out in the Statement of Aims and Objects, read "To finalize the Council's future policy on the control of advertisements, to enact appropriate by-laws and to seek provision of the staff required to enforce them."
I support Mr. SALES' proposal and urge the Council that the imposition of fees for advertisements if not yet contemplated, be also considered. I hope I will not be accused of being mercenary if I say that the most effective way to exercise control of advertisements, would be to introduce a scale of charges, the bigger the sign the higher the charges.
For years, land owners have been paying for the space occupied by balconies erected above public pavements. It is only reasonable that businessmen should do likewise for signs erected in public streets over public land. I would request, Mr. Chairman, that this matter be referred to the Urban Amenities Select Committee as a matter of urgency.
MR. SALES: On a point of information, may I say that the matter should be referred to the Assistant Director (Amenities and General), now that he is back. (Laughter).
Population Control. MR. CHEUNG:-Next I would like to pass on to our basic problem of population. I believe all would agree that our social problems are due to a surfeit of people that we cannot assimilate, house, educate, employ or care for. Because of the scarcity of land, lack of other natural resources and the fast growth of population it would be quite difficult, if not impossible, to improve the living standard of our people without at the same time introducing some measure of population control. This function of Government is in my opinion as urgent and important as any other positive form of social services. Yet in the White Paper tabled at a recent meeting of the Legislative Council, entitled "Aims and Policy of Social Welfare Work in Hong Kong", no mention was made of this very important work.
The Choi Hung Estate, the largest scheme which the Housing Authority has so far undertaken and which has taken 5 years to complete, costing $46,000,000, can only house 43,300 people whilst the natural growth of our population is at the rate of 100,000 a year. If urgent and positive steps are not taken to curb population growth, I am afraid we who are trying to improve conditions in Hong Kong, would be for ever fighting a lost battle. Whatever progress we may make in housing or social services during the years would be negatived by the greater demand caused by the increase in population over the same period.
It is not enough for Government just to give token assistance to the Family Planning Association which is indeed doing very useful work. Government has to assume the responsibility earnestly and full-heartedly and take a positive role to keep the population to a reasonable level by all legitimate means so that we may plan sensibly ahead, and that in the course of years we may ultimately have for all, sufficient schools, hospital beds, clinics and playgrounds.
Private Schools. My last topic, Mr. Chairman, is a repetition and enlargement of a proposal I made last year.
I deplore the very low percentage of our total expenditure that goes to Education. We must realize that the future of Hong Kong depends on her younger generation and the efficiency and productivity of our people depend on the standard of education they receive. No community can be expected to provide adequate education on a budget of 15% of its total expenditure. In some modern and progressive communities, the amount spent on education comes close to 50% of the total expenditure.
Considering the way that our Government primary schools are run, I cannot but agree with the criticism made by my friend and colleague Mr. Li Yiu-bor, that Government has made a serious blunder in its educational policy. It is no exaggeration to say that no responsible parents to-day are prepared to send their children to primary schools run by Government. It is the hopelessly low standard of these schools and the exceptionally low percentage of admissions to secondary schools secured by them, that have deterred parents from sending their children there. I know of many parents who prefer to send their children to subsidized or private schools at great personal sacrifice, in order to ensure a better chance for their children to enter a secondary school later on.
I have learnt of one Government primary school that had 94 pupils sitting for the Primary VI Joint School Examination. Of these 94, not a single child subsequently gained admission to a Government or subsidized secondary school. Another school that succeeded in procuring 3 or 4 admissions, considered it such a tremendous success that the staff and pupils had a celebration. (Laughter). An Inspector of Schools has been heard to say that he would rather see his children go without schooling at all than to send them to a Government primary school. The position is so bad that a couple of recently opened Government primary schools in Kowloon still have a number of classrooms completely or partly vacant for want of pupils.
430
1
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
431
Page 228 of 312
if 312
Page 227 of 312
430
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
efforts be spared to have the by-laws finalized, passed and put into effect before the end of next year.
The Aims and Objects of the Council for the ensuing year relative to advertisements, as set out in the Statement of Aims and Objects, read "To finalize the Council's future policy on the control of advertise- ments, to enact appropriate by-laws and to seek provision of the staff required to enforce them."
I support Mr. SALES' proposal and urge the Council that the imposition of fees for advertisements if not yet contemplated, be also considered. I hope I will not be accused of being mercenary if I say that the most effective way to exercise control of advertisements, would be to introduce a scale of charges, the bigger the sign the higher the charges.
For years, land owners have been paying for the space occupied by balconies erected above public pavements. It is only reasonable that businessmen should do likewise for signs erected in public streets over public land. I would request, Mr. Chairman, that this matter be referred to the Urban Amenities Select Committee as a matter of
urgency.
MR. SALES: On a point of information, may I say that the matter should be referred to the Assistant Director (Amenities and General), now that he is back. (Laughter).
Population Control. MR. CHEUNG:-Next I would like to pass on to our basic problem of population. I believe all would agree that our social problems are due to a surfeit of people that we cannot assimilate, house, educate, employ or care for. Because of the scarcity of land, lack of other natural resources and the fast growth of population it would be quite difficult, if not impossible, to improve the living standard of our people without at the same time introducing some measure of population control. This function of Government is in my opinion as urgent and important as any other positive form of social services. Yet in the White Paper tabled at a recent meeting of the Legislative Council, entitled "Aims and Policy of Social Welfare Work in Hong Kong", no mention was made of this very important work.
The Choi Hung Estate, the largest scheme which the Housing Authority has so far undertaken and which has taken 5 years to complete, costing $46,000,000, can only house 43,300 people whilst the natural growth of our population is at the rate of 100,000 a year. If urgent and positive steps are not taken to curb population growth, I am afraid we who are trying to improve conditions in Hong Kong, would be for ever fighting a lost battle. Whatever progress we may
1
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
431
make in housing or social services during the years would be negatived by the greater demand caused by the increase in population over the same period.
It is not enough for Government just to give token assistance to the Family Planning Association which is indeed doing very useful work. Government has to assume the responsibility earnestly and full-heartedly and take a positive role to keep the population to a reasonable level by all legitimate means so that we may plan sensibly ahead, and that in the course of years we may ultimately have for all, sufficient schools, hospital beds, clinics and playgrounds.
Private Schools. My last topic, Mr. Chairman, is a repetition and enlargement of a proposal I made last year.
I deplore the very low percentage of our total expenditure that goes to Education. We must realize that the future of Hong Kong depends on her younger generation and the efficiency and productivity of our people depend on the standard of education they receive. No com- munity can be expected to provide adequate education on a budget of 15% of its total expenditure. In some modern and progressive com- munities, the amount spent on education comes close to 50% of the total expenditure.
Considering the way that our Government primary schools are run, I cannot but agree with the criticism made by my friend and colleague Mr. Li Yiu-bor, that Government has made a serious blunder in its educational policy. It is no exaggeration to say that no responsible parents to-day are prepared to send their children to primary schools run by Government. It is the hopelessly low standard of these schools and the exceptionally low percentage of admissions to secondary schools secured by them, that have deterred parents from sending their children there. I know of many parents who prefer to send their children to subsidized or private schools at great personal sacrifice, in order to ensure a better chance for their children to enter a secondary school later on.
I have learnt of one Government primary school that had 94 pupils sitting for the Primary VI Joint School Examination. Of these 94, not a single child subsequently gained admission to a Government or subsidized secondary school. Another school that succeeded in procur- ing 3 or 4 admissions, considered it such a tremendous success that the staff and pupils had a celebration. (Laughter). An Inspector of Schools has been heard to say that he would rather see his children go without schooling at all than to send them to a Government primary school. The position is so bad that a couple of recently opened Government primary schools in Kowloon still have a number of classrooms completely or partly vacant for want of pupils.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.