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only fair and logical that preference be given to local people if they fill the bill. After all is said and done, this is universal practice. The public is not inclined to accept the smug and facile argument that people here do not have the qualifications when so many and such varied posts are involved, because the public holds the view that Government has not explored all possibilities. I conceive it to be Government's duty to give preference at all times to those people who were born in Hong Kong such as your own case, Sir. I consider that it is in Hong Kong's own interest for Government to employ local people who have the right basic qualifications and to give them all necessary in-service training and the opportunity to go abroad for such specialist training as may not be obtainable here. Without going outside, Hong Kong could provide good candidates needed for most posts, if the training opportunities were offered well in anticipation of service requirements. I repeat, if the training opportunities were offered well in anticipation of service requirements. If local young men and women were assured upon graduation that, were they to pursue certain courses of study and receive specialist training, they would be able to exercise their talents in the civil service to the fullest extent, without being discriminated against in any way at all, they would certainly show far more local loyalty than is presently the experience. And, Hong Kong would benefit in consequence, to be sure.
The onus is on Government to attract local people to the public service and to provide all training opportunities. Unless Government can find employment for the young people who are coming into the labour market in ever greater numbers, many of whom have struggled at great sacrifice to obtain the qualifications which they hold, Hong Kong may well be faced in time with increasing discontent and perhaps even unrest. Nobody can be purblind to the fact that, here as elsewhere, there is a revolution of rising expectations. People rightly aspire to a better life; they expect to be justly rewarded for their work according to their ability and efficiency. When all about them proclaim the rights of man, is it not inevitable that the rising generation will resist discrimination in any form? Surely, more so when it is practised against them at the local tax-payers' expense and right here in their own home!
Sir, I have pleasure in seconding the motion. (Applause).
MR. LI YIU-BOR:-Mr. Chairman, I rise to support the motion before Council this afternoon. I am afraid I am rather in an awkward position, because I have to speak after two eloquent speakers have spoken, and two eloquent speakers will speak after me. First of all I should like to echo the final sentence expressed by Mr. SALES concerning the fine work of our Secretaries of this Council.
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This is the first occasion in the conventional debate of this Council on which the motion is both proposed and seconded by unofficial members, and you, Sir, must be congratulated on not ruling out of order this desirable departure from long-established tradition.
At the last annual debate I said that the proceeds from Government lotteries should not be put into the general revenue of the Colony, but should be set aside to finance worthy welfare projects initiated by reputable voluntary agencies. I am pleased indeed to see that this has now been done. I should like to take this opportunity to suggest that Government run four lotteries a year, namely in June, July, August and September, for the express purpose of securing more funds through this painless form of taxation to assist the less fortunate members of our community.
Mr. Chairman, lions come and go, but the poor are always with us. I have said before, and I want to repeat now, that a community is not a happy community where the frightfully rich are living together with the frightfully poor. Hong Kong is just such a community, and the more we can do to alleviate the lot of the destitute, the better. Hong Kong has been, and still is to a less degree, prosperous, but unfortunately its prosperity has not been shared by the majority of its inhabitants. We always talk of priorities in public matters, but has priority ever been given to assisting and training the abjectly poor, the physically handicapped and others for trades which would enable them to stand permanently on their own feet and to fit themselves into our ever-growing industries? True, Mr. Chairman, we have always generously helped fire, flood, typhoon and other victims, but I maintain that we as a community have inexcusably failed to provide adequate training facilities for vocational training which is so vital to the life of a developing city.
I have also said before that it is not right that the people of Hong Kong should have no say in matters relating to education and medical facilities. As the Urban Council is the only Council in the Colony with an elected element (no matter how limited the franchise), I suggest that the Director of Education and the Director of Medical and Health Services be invited to serve on this Council. I must hasten to add that this statement is no reflection on nominated members on all Councils of the Colony, especially our colleagues on the other side of this table, who are serving the community in a most creditable manner.
Sir, in extending this invitation, we have no desire to interfere with the day-to-day administration of the Education Department or of the Medical and Health Department. If the Director of Education and the Director of Medical and Health Services sit on this Council, we can discuss with them matters on education and medical services for people in resettlement estates and areas. I am sure that such discussion...
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...would be beneficial.
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only fair and logical that preference be given to local people if they fill the bill. After all is said and done, this is universal practice. The public is not inclined to accept the smug and facile argument that people here do not have the qualifications when so many and such varied posts are involved, because the public holds the view that Government has not explored all possibilities. I conceive it to be Government's duty to give preference at all times to those people who were born in Hong Kong such as your own case, Sir. I consider that it is in Hong Kong's own interest for Government to employ local people who have the right basic qualifications and to give them all necessary in-service training and the opportunity to go abroad for such specialist training as may not be obtainable here. Without going out- side, Hong Kong could provide good candidates needed for most posts, if the training opportunities were offered well in anticipation of service requirements. I repeat, if the training opportunities were offered well in anticipation of service requirements. If local young men and women were assured upon graduation that, were they to pursue certain courses of study and receive specialist training, they would be able to exercise their talents in the civil service to the fullest extent, without being discriminated against in any way at all, they would certainly show far more local loyalty than is presently the experience. And, Hong Kong would benefit in consequence, to be sure.
The onus is on Government to attract local people to the public service and to provide all training opportunities. Unless Government can find employment for the young people who are coming into the labour market in ever greater numbers, many of whom have struggled at great sacrifice to obtain the qualifications which they hold, Hong Kong may well be faced in time with increasing discontent and perhaps even unrest. Nobody can be purblind to the fact that, here as elsewhere, there is a revolution of rising expectations. People rightly aspire to a better life; they expect to be justly rewarded for their work according to their ability and efficiency. When all about them proclaim the rights of man, is it not inevitable that the rising generation will resist discrimination in any form? Surely, more so when it is practised against them at the local tax-payers' expense and right here in their own home!
Sir, I have pleasure in seconding the motion. (Applause).
MR. LI YIU-BOR:-Mr. Chairman, I rise to support the motion before Council this afternoon. I am afraid I am rather in an awkward position, because I have to speak after two eloquent speakers have spoken, and two eloquent speakers will speak after me. First of all I should like to echo the final sentence expressed by Mr. SALES con- cerning the fine work of our Secretaries of this Council.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
431
This is the first occasion in the conventional debate of this Coun- cil on which the motion is both proposed and seconded by unofficial members, and you, Sir, must be congratulated on not ruling out of order this desirable departure from long-established tradition.
At the last annual debate I said that the proceeds from Govern- ment lotteries should not be put into the general revenue of the Colony, but should be set aside to finance worthy welfare projects initiated by reputable voluntary agencies. I am pleased indeed to see that this has now been done. I should like to take this opportunity to suggest that Government run four lotteries a year, namely in June, July, August and September, for the express purpose of securing more funds through this painless form of taxation to assist the less fortunate members of our community.
us.
Mr. Chairman, lions come and go, but the poor are always with I have said before, and I want to repeat now, that a community is not a happy community where the frightfully rich are living together with the frightfully poor. Hong Kong is just such a community, and the more we can do to alleviate the lot of the destitute, the better. Hong Kong has been, and still is to a less degree, prosperous, but unfortunately its prosperity has not been shared by the majority of its inhabitants. We always talk of priorities in public matters, but has priority ever been given to assisting and training the abjectly poor, the physically handicapped and others for trades which would enable them to stand permanently on their own feet and to fit themselves into our ever-growing industries? True, Mr. Chairman, we have always gener- ously helped fire, flood, typhoon and other victims, but I maintain that we as a community have inexecusably failed to provide adequate train- ing facilities for vocational training which is so vital to the life of a developing city.
I have also said before that it is not right that the people of Hong Kong should have no say in matters relating to education and medical facilities. As the Urban Council is the only Council in the Colony with an elected element (no matter how limited the franchise), I suggest that the Director of Education and the Director of Medical and Health Services be invited to serve on this Council. I must hasten to add that this statement is no reflection on nominated members on all Councils of the Colony, especially our colleagues on the other side of this table, who are serving the community in a most creditable manner.
Sir, in extending this invitation, we have no desire to interfere with the day-to-day administration of the Education Department or of the Medical and Health Department. If the Director of Education and the Director of Medical and Health Services sit on this Council, we can discuss with them matters on education and medical services for I am sure that such discus- people in resettlement estates and areas.
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