1965 — Page 79

Page 79 of 382

136

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

In Hong Kong, I believe, any man or woman born in this colony and who has reached the age of 21 years or over (and who of course has been normally resident here) should have the right of franchise, and I believe that any man or woman who has reached the age of 21 years or over and who has been normally resident here for seven years, but not born here, and who signs a statutory declaration that he or she is prepared to defend Hong Kong if called upon to do so, should have the right of franchise. Of course, there are (and always would be) many citizens in our city who would not have the franchise, either because they were too young or because they had not lived here long enough, or because they were not willing to sign a statutory declaration. But, nevertheless, these citizens would still be entitled to all other privileges apart from the franchise.

I have heard the remark made in derogatory tones that there would be classes of citizens and some would be only third-class citizens. Personally, I have always disliked the word class as applied to people and I disagree that there would be any classes of citizens. There would be, as I see it, two categories of citizen; one who has the franchise and one who has not (either temporarily or permanently), but both categories would be equal in all other privileges. Of course, the landed nobility or gentry might want to be considered a separate category but I think most would fit into one or other of the two categories suggested.

With these remarks, Mr. Chairman, I lend my support to Mr. Henry Hu's motion that for the betterment of Hong Kong as a whole this Council recommends the creation of Local Citizenship.

MRS. ELLIOTT:- I support the motion before the Council today in the name of Mr. Henry Hu.

One of the criticisms frequently levelled at the people of Hong Kong is that they are not civic-minded. While not admitting that this accusation is entirely true (as I have met very many civic-minded people here), I should like to ask what right we have to expect people to behave as civic-minded citizens if they are treated as under-privileged aliens? As an educationalist, I know that most people become what we expect them to be, according to how they are treated. By not giving the status of citizenship to the majority of those who live in Hong Kong, we are not only denying them their rights as human beings, but we are in danger of antagonising them, making them anti-social.

I am not suggesting that Hong Kong should become an independent state politically, with independent city status. But the word "citizen" should imply that if a person has lived here continuously for a period of five years, if he has the right to live here, to own an identity card, he should also have equal rights to enjoy the privileges of citizenship.

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

137

Whether a person in Hong Kong is civic-minded or not, there are many ways in which he is contributing to the well-being of the Colony. We are apt to forget that the prosperity of a city or state does not depend upon money alone, as money originates from an inorganic, lifeless substance. Our prosperity in Hong Kong has depended very greatly upon the industrious character of the very people who are denied citizenship and who belong to the underprivileged class. They keep down the labour costs and speed up production, upon which we depend for our existence. They pay rates for their houses, taxes if they do business, indirect taxes if they smoke or go to the cinema. In all matters of legal responsibility, they are treated as citizens; in matters where privilege is concerned, they are aliens.

It is my strong contention that we get what we ask for in the long run. If we want this vast multitude of people here to boost up our business, if we expect them to behave as citizens of an orderly and civilized society, we must seek their co-operation in ways other than just applying stringent laws of behaviour. We must see that they are made to feel that they are accepted into society, and that they may express their ideas and take part in civic life, with a say in the administration. Co-operation must be between Government and all the people, not Government and a few privileged people.

I repeat my strong support for the motion.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- I rise to speak on the motion that there should be created the status of a local citizenship.

The proposal in this Motion appeals to a wide section of Hong Kong's four million people, particularly among many of the non-English-speaking community who have emigrated to Hong Kong within the past 10 to 15 years.

These immigrants—more than one million of them—first came as birds of passage. They have settled down among us, and now wish to become Hong Kong citizens and to participate in guiding the affairs of this British Colony.

The local-born, of course, are in a manner of speaking "first among equals" in the Hong Kong Community. Their families have had their roots here for generations. They were born and educated here. It is only natural that they should regard themselves as genuine Hong Kong citizens in the best sense of the term.

In the context of this debate, the term citizenship is referred to primarily in a political sense, to which is related the right to vote and to run for election in our Councils of Government.

Page 79 of 382