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In the case of the Medical Department, it has achieved a remarkable record of keeping the maternal and infant mortality rates the lowest in south east Asia and in keeping Hong Kong virtually free from cholera for many years. Our own Urban Services Department has not been able to keep food poisoning from the restaurants.
To cite another instance, we have not been able to solve the simple problems of placing rafts on the Shek-O Beach in the interest of public safety. Now can we tackle the problems of Medical and Education Departments successfully? Personally, I have said before at the Standing Committee of the Whole Council, that as a member of this Council, if I could not eradicate malpractices amongst our health inspectors concerning licensing of food premises, I would resign as Chairman of the Food and Food Premises Select Committee.
MR. MARDEN: hear, hear.
MR. WONG Continued: If no more markets are to be built as a means of providing economical facilities for the housewives and as a solution to the deteriorating hawker problem, I will resign from the Chairmanship of the Market Select Committee. I have set the time limit of 6 months from date for these aims and objectives, but, if I were to ask for additional duties without proving that I am capable of fulfilling my present duties, I would not be considered a practical man.
In addition, we should also have in mind that the simpler the organization, the lower the cost of administration. In Hong Kong, a system of public service, based on honour, whereby a number of public-spirited citizens both appointed and elected serve on a voluntary basis, is at work. This system has its origin from the golden days of Greece and enables government to be run at the lowest possible cost with the least amount of taxation to the people. If we were to introduce cumbersome administrative mechanism, we should watch out for increased taxation which would be bound to come. This development might well nip the bud of Hong Kong's prosperity as the world's 26th Trading Entity.
We are all interested in raising the standard of living, but I am sure that members will agree with me that we must keep the cost of government low in order to maintain Hong Kong's successful economy.
In conclusion, I support the extension of the Council's scope by the addition of the district councils but excluding the New Territories and the area of the old Kowloon Walled City. I support the inclusion of the 21 functions of the Council but would exclude the Education and Medical Departments.
My record on voting on both Councils has been such that I vote "no" when I do not approve of the matter and I abstain when I am not sure. I feel so strongly about these reservations that, if someone here were to say that we must vote all or nothing, then, I will not vote for this motion. But if these reservations which I believe are sensible and practical are allowed, then I will vote for the motion.
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MR. LI YIU-BOR: In rising to support the motion, I should like, first of all, to congratulate members of the Ad Hoc Committee concerned on presenting such a well-considered report. The report is yet another proof, if indeed proof were needed, that appointed and elected members of this Council can work together as a team for the common good.
As pointed out in the foreword or preamble, the report only suggests a course for the Government to set, and therefore if it is adopted, either wholly or partially, its phasing can be quite flexible. In a proposal of such magnitude, there are bound to be divergent views from members of this Council as well as from other members of the public. It is gratifying, and indeed surprising, to note that, as Mr. SALES has pointed out, there is no minority report attached to the document under discussion today.
As I see it, critics of the report may be divided into two categories: those who consider that the report does not go far enough and those who condemn it for attempting too much at one go. Both are sincere critics, but as probably people in the first category are few in number, it is important that we should ease the minds of those in the second category. It is wrong to say that Hong Kong has a bad government or a government which does not care for the well-being of its people, but I think it is right to say that we have here an out-moded governmental structure which calls for a change, however moderate that change may be.
As far as I am concerned, it really saddens my heart to see the sick requiring hospitalization but unable to get it, or children of school age in resettlement estates unable to attend school, although there are sufficient school places for them. I think I am not exaggerating when I say that our social services need much further expansion to cater more adequately for the aged, the handicapped, and the under-privileged.
Sir, I am not saying this as any reflection on the efficiency of the heads of the departments concerned, and I fully appreciate that it is easy to criticize, but difficult to offer a practical remedy, and I do not for a moment suggest that when education, medical services, and social welfare come under the proposed Greater Hong Kong Council, miracles will occur overnight, but I firmly believe that a team of devoted citizens from all walks of life entrusted with the planning of these services will be in a better position to do the job more in keeping with the aspirations of the average man in the street.
There are some who are inclined to think that the proposed Greater Hong Kong Council will take over the day-to-day operation of the
Page 151 of 279
Page 151 of 279
276
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
In the case of the Medical Department, it has achieved a remark- able record of keeping the maternal and infant martality rates the lowest in south east Asia and in keeping Hong Kong virtually free from cholera for many years. Our own Urban Services Department has not been able to keep food poisoning from the restaurants.
To cite another instance, we have not been able to solve the simple problems of placing rafts on the Shek-O Beach in the interest of public safety. Now can we tackle the problems of Medical and Education Departments successfully? Personally, I have said before at the Stand- ing Committee of the Whole Council, that as a member of this Council, if I could not eradicate malpractices amongst our health inspectors concerning licensing of food premises, I would resign as Chairman of the Food and Food Premises Select Committee.
MR. MARDEN:-hear, hear.
www.
MR. WONG Continued:- If no more markets are to be built as a means of providing economical facilities for the housewives and as a solution to the deteriorating hawker problem, I will resign from the Chairmanship of the Market Select Committee. I have set the time limit of 6 months from date for these aims and objectives, but, if I were to ask for additional duties without proving that I am capable of fulfilling my present duties, I would not be considered a practical
man.
In addition we should also have in mind that the simpler the organization, the lower the cost of administration. In Hong Kong a system of public service, based on honour, whereby a number of public- spirited citizens both appointed and elected serve on a voluntary basis, is at work. This system has its origin from the golden days of Greece and enables government to be run at the lowest possible cost with the least amount of taxation to the people. If we were to introduce cumbersome administrative mechanism we should watch out for in- creased taxation which would be bound to come. This development might well nip the bud of Hong Kong's prosperity as the world's 26th Trading Entity.
We are all interested in raising the standard of living but I am sure that members will agree with me that we must keep the cost of government low in order to maintain Hong Kong's successful economy.
In conclusion, I support the extension of the Council's scope by the addition of the district councils but excluding the New Territories and the area of the old Kowloon Walled City. I support the inclusion of the 21 functions of the Council but would exclude the Education and Medical Departments.
My record on voting on both Councils has been such that I vote "no" when I do not approve of the matter and I abstain when I am not I feel so strongly about these reservations that, if someone here
sure.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
277
were to say that we must vote all or nothing, then, I will not vote for this motion. But if these reservations which I believe are sensible and practical are allowed, then I will vote for the motion.
MR. LI YIU-BOR: --In rising to support the motion, I should like, first of all, to congratulate members of the Ad Hoc Committee con- cerned on presenting such a well-considered report. The report is yet another proof, if indeed proof were needed, that appointed and elected members of this Council can work together as a team for the common good.
As pointed out in the foreword or preamble, the report only suggests a course for the Government to set, and therefore if it is adopted, either wholly or partially, its phasing can be quite flexible. In a proposal of such magnitude there are bound to be divergent views from members of this Council as well as from other members of the public. It is gratifying, and indeed surprising, to note that, as Mr. SALES has pointed out, there is no minority report attached to the document under discussion to-day.
As I see it, critics of the report may be divided into two categories: those who consider that the report does not go far enough and those who condemn it for attempting too much at one go. Both are sincere critics, but as probably people in the first category are few in number, it is important that we should ease the minds of those in the second category. It is wrong to say that Hong Kong has a bad government or a government which does not care for the well-being of its people, but I think it is right to say that we have here an out-moded govern- mental structure which calls for a change, however moderate that change may be.
As far as I am concerned, it really saddens my heart to see the sick requiring hospitalization but unable to get it, or children of school age in resettlement estates unable to attend school, although there are sufficient school places for them. I think I am not exaggerating when I say that our social services need much further expansion to cater more adequately for the aged, the handicapped and the under-privileged.
Sir, I am not saying this as any reflection on the efficiency of the heads of the departments concerned, and I fully appreciate that it is easy to criticize, but difficult to offer a practical remedy, and I do not for a moment suggest that when education, medical services and social welfare come under the proposed Greater Hong Kong Council, miracles will occur overnight, but I firmly believe that a team of devoted citizens from all walks of life entrusted with the planning of these services will be in a better position to do the job more in keeping with the aspirations of the average man in the street.
There are some who are inclined to think that the proposed Greater Hong Kong Council will take over the day-to-day operation of the
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