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and privileges. It is quite apparent that it is not an easy matter to break this tradition in order to bring about some reforms in the adminis- tration. This can be seen from the fact that in spite of pressure, Ministers and Members of Parliament come and go with no fruitful result ever taking place. (Applause). We in the Urban Council wasted no time to produce and adopted an ad hoc committee's report on local government immediately following the announcement of the Govern- ment's intention to introduce local government over a year ago. How- ever, the Government has neither expressed nor indicated the acceptance of the recommendations of our report whether in part or in total. There is nothing extraordinary about the report except that we advocated some responsibility be given to the people. There is no mentioning of con- stitutional changes involving either the Legislative or the Executive Councils. What causes the delay in making such a decision? I can think of two reasons. Either the Government is unwilling to break away from the tradition, or it is sceptical about this matter. Is Govern- ment suspicious because of some of the reservations on the part of some members though the elected members' view is unanimous. The Govern- ment must not view with any suspicion any proposal coming from the elected members. (Applause). It must always be ready to welcome criticisms, study them carefully and answer them. Why can't the Government invite members of the Urban Council to meet the Govern- ment advisers to iron out any misunderstanding, if there is, in the report? If it is for the public good, the Government advisers should not be selfish and forget this tradition.

The implementation of a local government might be a long process. It may be worthwhile to begin by expanding the scope of the Urban Council. The Medical and Education Departments were the subject of press comments recently, let this Council share their responsibility. It is regrettable that these two Departments always claim they have achieved large scale expansion; but in my opinion, they have not even achieved what should be the minimum basic requirements. It is only after their basic requirements are established that expansion can be made possible, after all the Colony's natural increase in population is known. What the Medical and Education Departments are doing now is just ridding off the arrears, and these arrears are mounting as the years go by. Government's policy is to tackle problems as they arise and deal with them in piecemeal. They should be tackled from the bottom and not on the surface. It is time for these two Departments to make an effort to establish once and for all the basic requirements and thereafter expand them accordingly. The Public Works Depart- ment has done a fine job in planning with far sight and I do admire its continual energetic activity in planning reservoirs, roads, and other im- portant constructions. The Public Works Department shares over one quarter of the Colony's budget, but I have not yet heard a word of

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complaint about this Department. Why can't the Medical and Educa- tion Departments do the same?

The Government is revising the labour laws. Has the Government taken into account what are the exact wishes of the workers? It serves no purpose for the Government to make laws to suit its own policy. Shorter working hours, holiday with pay and other fringe benefits would by all means make provision for them. Medical service covers a very wide field for the workers and it is not sufficient to employ a doctor and insist that all employees must attend his clinic. Has consideration been given to the fact that the majority of the Chinese workers like to I believe in consult herbalist before they consult western doctors?

equal and efficient medical service for the poor as well as for the rich. In Hong Kong today a dollar a week or five dollars a month to some insurance company will provide an individual comprehensive medical service with free choice of doctors and hospitals. In order to make an employee have a sense of belonging, can there be in the labour laws the provision that the management allocate a percentage of the net profit to be distributed among the employees? If no provision could be made, can a higher taxation be levied for this purpose? Business concerns have in recent years made colossal profits. Giving a small percentage away would not in any way affect the employer, but it would mean a lot to each employee. In fact, many establishments have been giving large bonuses to their employees. Why should the rich be made more rich and the poor be made poorer?

Chinese people are greatly attached to the parents and family and it is the responsibility of the children to take care of the parents as long as they live. In tackling the problem of social security, the im- portance of this question must be borne in mind. Two essential factors are involved. One is old age pension. This will help the majority who at an old age do not possess any saving and still have dependants This will assist in the family. The other is unemployment benefits. young people who suddenly become unemployed by providing them with some means of support. Such unemployment benefits will not only assure those already in employment, but will also encourage young people to seek employment. It has been reported by the Labour Department that thousands of vacancies are waiting to be filled. This is rather an unusual state of affairs. Is Hong Kong so prosperous and unlike other countries that there is no such thing as unemployment? Has the Commissioner for Labour ever tried to find out the reason for such a large number of vacancies and establish a labour exchange to solve such a most important problem? Whatever labour laws are to be introduced, harmonious relationship must be created among all those concerned.

Mr. Chairman, I now take this opportunity to clarify some of the misgivings and criticisms about the school medical service for school