Page 252 of 382
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Sir, it would be a mistake to try to contain the new spirit of our industrial expansion in the old wineskin. We must alter the structure to suit the needs of our time. So I venture to suggest that the time has come for us to have a double-structure government for Hong Kong; one Central, the other Local. The Central Government to be responsible for Legislature, Finance, Planning and Supervision, Promotion of Trade and Industries and all other functions which require uniformity of action, leaving the Local Government to attend to Environmental, Personal and Protective Services.
The Local Government for the new townships must be administered by Local Councils. It must of necessity follow certain principles laid down by the Central Government. But its members should use their local knowledge to do the things in a way best suited to the particular needs of the local people. As the Councillor is the voice of the citizens on the local authority, and represents the opinion of the people, he must be elected by the people he represents.
To pursue the matter to its logical conclusion, I would urge that whilst Government is giving its thoughts to the Working Party's Report, it should also consider the question of having an entirely elected Urban Council.
MR. SALES: --Sir, may I have your permission for appointed members to withdraw? (Laughter).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:--Mr. Chairman, withdraw by how many inches? (Laughter).
MR. Lo continued:--The Elected Members have shown that they are men and women who have the interest of the Colony at heart. They have over a period of a decade proved themselves to be responsible persons who have won our confidence. (Applause). There is every reason to believe that they will carry on with this fine tradition.
Sir, with these remarks, I beg to support the motion before the Council. (Applause).
MRS. E. ELLIOTT:--Mr. Chairman, I support the Motion before the Council. This statement of aims represents a great deal of work on the part of members of this Council, of the Urban Services Department, and of the Resettlement Department.
As we have eleven months of the year in which to point out any failings in these departments, I feel I must in this auspicious twelfth month concentrate on how much our civic work is hindered by matters beyond our control, because when people bring their grievances to us, we often have to send them away empty-handed, saying, "Outside our jurisdiction".
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
483
First a word about Resettlement. By far the most complaints are still matters of resettlement. The number of complaints against overcrowding increases every week. This Council aims at providing 24 square feet per adult person and half that amount for a child under 10. It is, according to medical standards, sub-standard accommodation at best. Last year on this Council we deplored the reduction to 16 square feet per adult, and now we are down to 12. Of course, I know that I shall be told that 24 square feet is still the yardstick. But will the Commissioner deny that thousands of families in Shek Kip Mei, Li Cheng Uk, Tai Hang Tung, Hung Hom, and now even Wong Tai Sin and Tung Tau, are living, not only in sub-standard conditions, but in sub-human conditions? Can you imagine how 10 adults live in a room 10 feet by 12 feet? Worse still, can you imagine if some of those reckoned as adults are actually double the number of children, resulting in having 14 or more "heads" in a room of 120 square feet? This room, mind you, serves as kitchen, dining-room, study, and bedroom combined. Would those who gave their "Yes" to the Government White Paper on Squatter Control and Resettlement, like to take a holiday for a month with 13 other persons in a room 10′ by 12′? Yet decantation was placed No. 5 on the list of priorities. At the same time, No. 1 priority, intended for the victims of dangerous buildings, was reserved only for those victims with enough money to pay rent-in-advance, while the needy victims of dangerous buildings go to the no-man's-land called "licensed areas".
Is it true, that resettlement in general is being held up by building contractors? Would the Director of Public Works please tell us how far behind we are in our building programme? What penalties are enforced on dilatory contractors? and what is Government doing about the delay?
Now Education:
While speaking of over-crowded conditions, I cannot leave out the concern expressed by the Medical Authorities for the comfort of the school children. Those who nod their heads and say "Yea" on resettlement overcrowding must have some difficulty in changing the direction of their heads to say "Nay" to private schools on account of so-called crowded conditions. To watch how these schools which cater for nearly half the children in the colony are penalized is an education in itself. No doubt the inspectors have in front of them the Book of Rules, and a plan of the building of the proposed school, the rent of which Government has allowed to rise on a laissez-faire basis. Let us say we have a room of 30′ by 12', that is, 360 square feet. The windows, unfortunately, are not at the left, and on that one factor the future of the school depends. The class must be turned round to have light on the left (even for a night school). The teacher has to stand beside the long wall, with the result that she is allocated 150 square feet. Now, because in this position the room
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Page 252 of 382
482
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Sir, it would be a mistake to try to contain the new spirit of our industrial expansion in the old wineskin. We must alter the structure to suit the needs of our time. So I venture to suggest that the time has come for us to have a double-structure government for Hong Kong; one Central the other Local. The Central Government to be respon- sible for Legislature, Finance, Planning and Supervision, Promotion of Trade and Industries and all other functions which require uniformity of action, leaving the Local Government to attend to Environmental, Personal and Protective Services.
The Local Government for the new townships must be administered by Local Councils. It must of necessity follow certain principles laid down by the Central Government. But its members should use their local knowledge to do the things in a way best suited to the particular needs of the local people. As the Councillor is the voice of the citizens on the local authority, and represents the opinion of the people, he must be elected by the people he represents.
To pursue the matter to its logical conclusion, I would urge that whilst Government is giving its thoughts to the Working Party's Report, it should also consider the question of having an entirely elected Urban Council.
MR. SALES: --Sir, may I have your permission for appointed members to withdraw? (Laughter).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, withdraw by how many inches? (Laughter).
MR. Lo continued:-The Elected Members have shown that they are men and women who have the interest of the Colony at heart. They have over a period of a decade proved themselves to be respon- sible persons who have won our confidence. (Applause). There is every reason to believe that they will carry on with this fine tradition.
Sir, with these remarks, I beg to support the motion before the Council. (Applause).
MRS. E. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, I support the Motion before the Council. This statement of aims represents a great deal of work on the part of members of this Council, of the Urban Services Depart- ment, and of the Resettlement Department.
As we have eleven months of the year in which to point out any failings in these departments, I feel I must in this auspicious twelfth month concentrate on how much our civic work is hindered by matters beyond our control, because when people bring their grievances to us, we often have to send them away empty-handed, saying, "Outside our jurisdiction".
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
483
First a word about Resettlement. By far the most complaints are still matters of resettlement. The number of complaints against over- This Council aims at providing 24 crowding increases every week. square feet per adult person and half that amount for a child under 10. It is, according to medical standards, sub-standard accommodation at best. Last year on this Council we deplored the reduction to 16 square feet per adult, and now we are down to 12. Of course, I know that I shall be told that 24 square feet is still the yardstick. But will the Commissioner deny that thousands of families in Shek Kip Mei, Li Cheng Uk, Tai Hang Tung, Hung Hom, and now even Wong Tai Sin and Tung Tau, are living, not only in sub-standard conditions, but in sub-human conditions? Can you imagine how 10 adults live in a room 10 feet by 12 feet? Worse still, can you imagine if some of those reckoned as adults are actually double the number of children, resulting in having 14 or more "heads" in a room of 120 square feet? This room, mind you, serves as kitchen, dining-room, study, and bed- room combined. Would those who gave their "Yes" to the Govern- ment White Paper on Squatter Control and Resettlement, like to take a holiday for a month with 13 other persons in a room 10′ by 12′? Yet decantation was placed No. 5 on the list of priorities. At the same time, No. 1 priority, intended for the victims of dangerous build- ings, was reserved only for those victims with enough money to pay rent-in-advance, while the needy victims of dangerous buildings go to the no-man's-land called "licensed areas".
Is it true, that resettlement in general is being held up by building contractors? Would the Director of Public Works please tell us how far behind we are in our building programme? What penalties are enforced on dilatory contractors? and what is Government doing about the delay?
Now Education:
While speaking of over-crowded conditions, I cannot leave out the concern expressed by the Medical Authorities for the comfort of the school children. Those who nod their heads and say "Yea" on resettlement overcrowding must have some difficulty in changing the direction of their heads to say "Nay" to private schools on account of so-called crowded conditions. To watch how these schools which cater for nearly half the children in the colony are penalized is an education in itself. No doubt the inspectors have in front of them the Book of Rules, and a plan of the building of the proposed school, the rent of which Government has allowed to rise on a laissez-faire basis. Let us say we have a room of 30′ by 12', that is, 360 square feet. The windows, unfortunately, are not at the left, and on that one factor the future of the school depends. The class must be turned round to have light on the left (even for a night school). The teacher has to stand beside the long wall, with the result that she is allocated 150 square feet. Now, because in this position the room
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