1967 — Page 33

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed

Page 33 of 259

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

I was trying in my other speech to get some money to put the primary education plan into effect. If the co-author of the last motion on Whitfield Barracks, Mr. FORSGATE, who had in mind 1,500,000 sq. ft. (I would settle with him on that 1,500,000 although the actual area is 1,800,000) would give up 300,000 sq. ft. along Nathan Road, then we would have $150,000,000 at $500 per sq. ft. With this sum, the whole plan could go through right away.

CHAIRMAN: - Mr. WONG, are you speaking to the present motion or the previous motion? (Laughter).

MR. WONG: It is related to the present motion, primary education will also include the children in the Resettlement Estates. With this reservation, I support the motion.

MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, I will speak on the motion as amended by Mr. BERNACCHI and supported by Dr. BELL, so that there need be no doubt in your mind that I am recanting on the motion on Whitfield Barracks.

The sentiment expressed by Mr. CHEONG-LEEN in his motion must necessarily find a ready response on the part of all people of goodwill. I am sure that Mr. CHEONG-LEEN and Mr. CHEUNG Wing-in will welcome the fact that the element of compulsion is now made explicit in the text of the motion by the amendment introduced to-day.

Sir, so long as there is one child in any part of Hong Kong at all who is of primary school-age, but who cannot find a place in a properly run school, then this Council must express its concern. For, in this day and age, no one can deny that primary schooling is the birthright of every child. Proper schooling may be said to be a pre-condition of good citizenship just as its provision is the hallmark of a good administration.

I said earlier and I repeat, that all the progress that Hong Kong may make in commerce and industry or in any other field of human activity will continue to ring hollow if children born here cannot go to school because there are no places for them, more so as ours is a prosperous community whose per capita income is reputed to be the second highest in Asia and whose economic growth is most gratifying. There should be no need to labour the point made in this motion.

Nevertheless, Sir, I think it is good that we should read into the record the particular Article 26(1), to which Mr. CHEONG-LEEN has referred, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

"Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit."

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

MR. HU - I support the amended motion of Mr. Brook BERNACCHI. I think the idea behind Mr. CHEONG-LEEN's motion is good, but it is not his idea. The Reform Club has always advocated that there should be free and compulsory education in the Colony. I think Mr. CHEONG-LEEN has repeatedly raised this question in other Urban Council meetings in the form of a question to the Commissioner for Resettlement, but I remember that about eighteen months ago, at an Annual Debate, I said that we should not only have compulsory primary education but, because of the Bangkok Educational Conference, that compulsory education should now go beyond primary education. So that, although Mr. CHEONG-LEEN's idea is good, it is one which has been repeatedly advocated by the Reform Club. Whether I support Mr. CHEONG-LEEN's original motion or not, is of no importance to-day because, as Mr. CHEONG-LEEN said "as long as I continue as an elected Councillor I shall leave no stone unturned", it is very obvious that Mr. CHEONG-LEEN made a very good election speech, so that the result of this motion, as a matter of fact, is of no importance to Mr. CHEONG-LEEN. (Laughter). When his speech has been printed in the Press, I think his primary aim will have been achieved. (Laughter). Therefore, I say that it is a good idea, but I will take the attitude that Mr. CHEONG-LEEN took with regard to my motion on the creation of Hong Kong citizenship. He also had a very ambiguous speech on that subject and in the event he did not support my motion, so I will take the same attitude. I have said that Mr. CHEONG-LEEN has a very good idea with regard to his motion, but I support Mr. Brook BERNACCHI's amended motion. (Laughter).

MR. LI: - Mr. Chairman, I did not intend to speak to-day, but with due respect to the mover and the seconder of the amended motion, I do not think I can support the amended motion. The reason is this, the amendment reads "this Council is concerned about the number of primary school children in Resettlement Estates who are not given free, compulsory, primary education". Now, I do not see any difference between the two phrases, "who are not attending school" and "who are not given free and compulsory, primary education", because we are referring to the Resettlement Estates. Now, we know that if the people living in the Resettlement Estates have to be compelled to send their children to school, what about the people living outside the Resettlement Estates? Will they be compelled to do the same as the people in the Resettlement Estates? This is one point. Another point is that Dr. BELL has said that "it is no use to be concerned if you do not take any action."

I do not see what action the amendment has urged Government to take, and I do not see any merit, again with due respect to the mover and the seconder, in the amendment. Because of these two reasons, I will oppose the amendment, and I think I should add that we should leave the Reform Club and the Civic Association

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Page 33 of 259 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 48 I was trying in my other speech to get some money to put the primary education plan into effect. If the co-author of the last motion on Whitfield Barracks, Mr. FORSGATE, who had in mind 1,500,000 sq. ft. (I would settle with him on that 1,500,000 although the actual area is 1,800,000) would give up 300,000 sq. ft. along Nathan Road, then we would have $150,000,000 at $500 per sq. ft. With this sum, the whole plan could go through right away. CHAIRMAN: - Mr. WONG, are you speaking to the present motion or the previous motion? (Laughter). MR. WONG: It is related to the present motion, primary education will also include the children in the Resettlement Estates. With this reservation, I support the motion. MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, I will speak on the motion as amended by Mr. BERNACCHI and supported by Dr. BELL, so that there need be no doubt in your mind that I am recanting on the motion on Whitfield Barracks. The sentiment expressed by Mr. CHEONG-LEEN in his motion must necessarily find a ready response on the part of all people of goodwill. I am sure that Mr. CHEONG-LEEN and Mr. CHEUNG Wing-in will welcome the fact that the element of compulsion is now made explicit in the text of the motion by the amendment introduced to-day. Sir, so long as there is one child in any part of Hong Kong at all who is of primary school-age, but who cannot find a place in a properly run school, then this Council must express its concern. For, in this day and age, no one can deny that primary schooling is the birthright of every child. Proper schooling may be said to be a pre-condition of good citizenship just as its provision is the hallmark of a good administration. I said earlier and I repeat, that all the progress that Hong Kong may make in commerce and industry or in any other field of human activity will continue to ring hollow if children born here cannot go to school because there are no places for them, more so as ours is a prosperous community whose per capita income is reputed to be the second highest in Asia and whose economic growth is most gratifying. There should be no need to labour the point made in this motion. Nevertheless, Sir, I think it is good that we should read into the record the particular Article 26(1), to which Mr. CHEONG-LEEN has referred, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: "Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit." HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 49 MR. HU - I support the amended motion of Mr. Brook BERNACCHI. I think the idea behind Mr. CHEONG-LEEN's motion is good, but it is not his idea. The Reform Club has always advocated that there should be free and compulsory education in the Colony. I think Mr. CHEONG-LEEN has repeatedly raised this question in other Urban Council meetings in the form of a question to the Commissioner for Resettlement, but I remember that about eighteen months ago, at an Annual Debate, I said that we should not only have compulsory primary education but, because of the Bangkok Educational Conference, that compulsory education should now go beyond primary education. So that, although Mr. CHEONG-LEEN's idea is good, it is one which has been repeatedly advocated by the Reform Club. Whether I support Mr. CHEONG-LEEN's original motion or not, is of no importance to-day because, as Mr. CHEONG-LEEN said "as long as I continue as an elected Councillor I shall leave no stone unturned", it is very obvious that Mr. CHEONG-LEEN made a very good election speech, so that the result of this motion, as a matter of fact, is of no importance to Mr. CHEONG-LEEN. (Laughter). When his speech has been printed in the Press, I think his primary aim will have been achieved. (Laughter). Therefore, I say that it is a good idea, but I will take the attitude that Mr. CHEONG-LEEN took with regard to my motion on the creation of Hong Kong citizenship. He also had a very ambiguous speech on that subject and in the event he did not support my motion, so I will take the same attitude. I have said that Mr. CHEONG-LEEN has a very good idea with regard to his motion, but I support Mr. Brook BERNACCHI's amended motion. (Laughter). MR. LI: - Mr. Chairman, I did not intend to speak to-day, but with due respect to the mover and the seconder of the amended motion, I do not think I can support the amended motion. The reason is this, the amendment reads "this Council is concerned about the number of primary school children in Resettlement Estates who are not given free, compulsory, primary education". Now, I do not see any difference between the two phrases, "who are not attending school" and "who are not given free and compulsory, primary education", because we are referring to the Resettlement Estates. Now, we know that if the people living in the Resettlement Estates have to be compelled to send their children to school, what about the people living outside the Resettlement Estates? Will they be compelled to do the same as the people in the Resettlement Estates? This is one point. Another point is that Dr. BELL has said that "it is no use to be concerned if you do not take any action." I do not see what action the amendment has urged Government to take, and I do not see any merit, again with due respect to the mover and the seconder, in the amendment. Because of these two reasons, I will oppose the amendment, and I think I should add that we should leave the Reform Club and the Civic Association Page 33 of 259 50

Baseline (Original)

Ba 1259 Page 33 of 259 48 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL I was trying in my other speech to get some money to put the primary education plan into effect. If the co-author of the last motion on Whitfield Barracks, Mr. FORSGATE, who had in mind 1,500,000 sq. ft. (I would settle with him on that 1,500,000 although the actual area is 1,800,000) would give up 300,000 sq. ft. along Nathan Road, the we would have $150,000,000 at $500 per sq. ft. with this sum, whole plan could go through rightaway. CHAIRMAN:-Mr. WONG, are you speaking to the present motion or the previous motion? (Laughter). MR. WONG: It is related to the present motion, primary education will also include the children in the Resettlement Estates. With this reservation, I support the motion. MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, I will speak on the motion as amended by Mr. BERNACCHI and supported by Dr. BELL, so that there need be no doubt in your mind that I am recanting on the motion on Whitfield Barracks. The sentiment expressed by Mr. CHEONG-LEEN in his motion must necessarily find a ready response on the part of all people of goodwill. I am sure that Mr. CHEONG-LEEN and Mr. CHEUNG Wing-in will wel- come the fact that the element of compulsion is now made explicit in the text of the motion by the amendment introduced to-day. Sir, so long as there is one child in any part of Hong Kong at all who is of primary school-age, but who cannot find a place in a properly run school, then this Council must express its concern. For, in this day and age, no one can deny that primary schooling is the birthright of every child. Proper schooling may be said to be a pre-condition of good citizenship just as its provision is the hallmark of a good adminis- tration. I said earlier and I repeat, that all the progress that Hong Kong may make in commerce and industry or in any other field of human activity will continue to ring hollow if children born here cannot go to school because there are no places for them, more so as ours is a prosperous community whose per capita income is reputed to be the second highest in Asia and whose economic growth is most gratifying. There should be no need to labour the point made in this motion. Nevertheless, Sir, I think it is good that we should read into the record the particular Article 26(1), to which Mr. CHEONG-LEEN has referred, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: "Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher educa- tion shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit." HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 49 MR. HU-I support the amended motion of Mr. Brook BERNACCHI. I think the idea behind Mr. CHEONG-LEEN's motion is good, but it is not his idea. The Reform Club has always advocated that there should be free and compulsory education in the Colony. I think Mr. CHEONG- LEEN has repeatedly raised this question in other Urban Council meet- ings in the form of a question to the Commissioner for Resettlement, but I remember that about eighteen months ago, at an Annual Debate, I said that we should not only have compulsory primary education but, because of the Bangkok Educational Conference, that compulsory educa- tion should now go beyond primary education. So that, although Mr. CHEONG-LEEN's idea is good, it is one which has been repeatedly advo- cated by the Reform Club. Whether I support Mr. CHEONG-LEEN'S original motion or not, is of no importance to-day because, as Mr. CHEONG-LEEN said "as long as I continue as an elected Councillor I shall leave no stone unturned", it is very obvious that Mr. CHEONG-LEEN made a very good election speech, so that the result of this motion, als a matter of fact, is of no importance to Mr. CHEONG-LEEN. (Laughter). When his speech has been printed in the Press, I think his primary aim will have been achieved. (Laughter). Therefore, I say that it is a good idea, but I will take the attitude that Mr. CHEONG- LEEN took with regard to my motion on the creation of Hong Kong citizenship. He also had a very ambiguous speech on that subject and in the event he did not support my motion, so I will take the same attitude. I have said that Mr. CHEONG-LEEN has a very good idea with regard to his motion, but I support Mr. Brook BERNACCHI's amended motion. (Laughter). MR. LI:-Mr. Chairman, I did not intend to speak to-day, but with due respect to the mover and the seconder of the amended motion, I do not think I can support the amended motion. The reason is this, the amendment reads "this Council is concerned about the number of primary school children in Resettlement Estates who are not given free, compulsory, primary education". Now, I do not see any difference between the two phrases, "who are not attending school" and "who are not given free and compulsory, primary education", because we are referring to the Resettlement Estates. Now, we know that if the people living in the Resettlement Estates have to be compelled to send their children to school, what about the people living outside the Resettlement Estates? Will they be compelled to do the same as the people in the Resettlement Estates? This is one point. Another point is that Dr. BELL has said that "it is no use to be concerned if you do not take any action." I do not see what action the amendment has urged Government to take, and I do not see any merit, again with due respect to the mover and the seconder, in the amendment. Because of these two reasons, I will oppose the amendment, and I think I should add that we should leave the Reform Club and the Civic Association

2026-05-14 00:53:31 · Baseline

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Page 33 of 259

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

I was trying in my other speech to get some money to put the primary education plan into effect. If the co-author of the last motion on Whitfield Barracks, Mr. FORSGATE, who had in mind 1,500,000 sq. ft. (I would settle with him on that 1,500,000 although the actual area is 1,800,000) would give up 300,000 sq. ft. along Nathan Road, the we would have $150,000,000 at $500 per sq. ft. with this sum, whole plan could go through rightaway.

CHAIRMAN:-Mr. WONG, are you speaking to the present motion or the previous motion? (Laughter).

MR. WONG: It is related to the present motion, primary education will also include the children in the Resettlement Estates. With this reservation, I support the motion.

The sentiment expressed by Mr. CHEONG-LEEN in his motion must necessarily find a ready response on the part of all people of goodwill. I am sure that Mr. CHEONG-LEEN and Mr. CHEUNG Wing-in will wel- come the fact that the element of compulsion is now made explicit in the text of the motion by the amendment introduced to-day.

Nevertheless, Sir, I think it is good that we should read into the record the particular Article 26(1), to which Mr. CHEONG-LEEN has referred, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

"Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher educa- tion shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit."

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

MR. HU-I support the amended motion of Mr. Brook BERNACCHI. I think the idea behind Mr. CHEONG-LEEN's motion is good, but it is not his idea. The Reform Club has always advocated that there should be free and compulsory education in the Colony. I think Mr. CHEONG- LEEN has repeatedly raised this question in other Urban Council meet- ings in the form of a question to the Commissioner for Resettlement, but I remember that about eighteen months ago, at an Annual Debate, I said that we should not only have compulsory primary education but, because of the Bangkok Educational Conference, that compulsory educa- tion should now go beyond primary education. So that, although Mr. CHEONG-LEEN's idea is good, it is one which has been repeatedly advo- cated by the Reform Club. Whether I support Mr. CHEONG-LEEN'S original motion or not, is of no importance to-day because, as Mr. CHEONG-LEEN said "as long as I continue as an elected Councillor I shall leave no stone unturned", it is very obvious that Mr. CHEONG-LEEN made a very good election speech, so that the result of this motion, als a matter of fact, is of no importance to Mr. CHEONG-LEEN. (Laughter). When his speech has been printed in the Press, I think his primary aim will have been achieved. (Laughter). Therefore, I say that it is a good idea, but I will take the attitude that Mr. CHEONG- LEEN took with regard to my motion on the creation of Hong Kong citizenship. He also had a very ambiguous speech on that subject and in the event he did not support my motion, so I will take the same attitude. I have said that Mr. CHEONG-LEEN has a very good idea with regard to his motion, but I support Mr. Brook BERNACCHI's amended motion. (Laughter).

MR. LI:-Mr. Chairman, I did not intend to speak to-day, but with due respect to the mover and the seconder of the amended motion, I do not think I can support the amended motion. The reason is this, the amendment reads "this Council is concerned about the number of primary school children in Resettlement Estates who are not given free, compulsory, primary education". Now, I do not see any difference between the two phrases, "who are not attending school" and "who are not given free and compulsory, primary education", because we are referring to the Resettlement Estates. Now, we know that if the people living in the Resettlement Estates have to be compelled to send their children to school, what about the people living outside the Resettlement Estates? Will they be compelled to do the same as the people in the Resettlement Estates? This is one point. Another point is that Dr. BELL has said that "it is no use to be concerned if you do not take any action."

1967 — Page 33

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