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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
However, since they are all appointed by the Governor as individuals, the Executive and Legislative Councils can only be regarded as advisory bodies to the Colonial Government. As such, these two Councils, as they are presently constituted, do not sufficiently represent the aspirations and needs of the people of Hong Kong, particularly our young people, as required in this age of space exploration and dynamic change.
Whilst other reforms such as an Ombudsman system and expansion of the scope of the Urban Council are important, they are of secondary importance when compared to the overriding need to have elected representation in the Legislative Council, which is responsible for the laws which govern the lives of Hong Kong people, the taxes which are collected, and the manner in which such taxes are used to lift up the living standards and quality of life of the people.
If our young people are to have unity of purpose and dedication to Hong Kong, they must acquire a sense of identity and belonging to Hong Kong. A sense of identity in practical terms, Mr. Chairman, means greater participation in the government, in Legislative and Executive Councils, in an expanded Urban Council, and in community affairs at the district level. Our existing colonial-type political institutions will have to be modernized in keeping with the pace of economic and social change of Hong Kong in the 1970's.
The true wealth of a community lies in its men, women and young people—the better the quality, the richer the community. This calls for a higher educational standard and a Hong Kong Identity through more participation in Hong Kong affairs by Hong Kong people, especially within the Legislative Council.
Mr. Chairman, I support the Motion and endorse the Statement of Aims for 1970. (Applause).
(Mrs. C. J. SYMONS left the meeting at this point).
MR. WILSON T. S. WANG:-Mr. Chairman, a great deal has been done in recent years by the Urban Council to provide more and better recreational facilities for the people of Hong Kong, so before I say another word, let credit be given where credit is due. If I go on to say: "Let us then be up and doing" in the hope that we shall leave behind us "footprints in the sands of time", it does not mean that I am overlooking the achievements that have already been done.
But one step always leads to another. Interest and enthusiasm snowball and thus demands for further provision are generated and this forward thrust is a natural phenomenon associated with many forms of public service, for the more we have the more we find wanting and in the case of our recreational facilities this is particularly true.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
272
It is indeed most gratifying to observe that the present trend is towards growing interest in sport and recreation. Whereas at one time, it would have been an effort to convince people of the need for physical recreation, now they seem to have been convinced. And this is just what we have been striving for. This is an extremely healthy sign which none of us would like to discourage by a shortage of facilities. So it is up to us to make provision for them.
But let us examine the existing development:
In the provision of Parks and Playgrounds, we may be able to boast remarkable achievements: the number of public gardens during the last decade has been increased from 45 to 305, children's playgrounds, 19 to 220, grass games pitches, 16 to 37, hardsurfaced mini-soccer pitches, 15 to 65, basketball courts, 28 to 203, volleyball courts, 5 to 79, tennis courts, 18 to 30 and running tracks, 1 to 7.
But let us not be deceived by these figures and be led into complacency. Impressive as these numbers are, it is quite obvious that when we compare them with the size of our population we are still a long way from adequacy in our provision.
But then when we examine the provision of indoor and covered facilities, we find its development most sadly lacking and in fact Government has not been able to formulate any policy on its development at all. Let us remember that we have a long hot summer and quite a number of rainy days which very often make open air playgrounds unusable. It should be obvious that some form of shelter is absolutely vital. Multi-storeyed and multi-purpose sports halls should prove the best answer, quite apart from the facilities they provide for a wide variety of sports and games that cannot take place in the open air. The shortage of sites alone call for vertical development in order to gain more usable areas on each given site. Here I suggest that Government should make a policy decision now.
We have miles of harbour and abundance of water surrounding us which is the best gift that nature can provide for most healthy and enjoyable recreation. But the fact is that apart from swimming on the beaches, as things stand at the moment, sports such as sailing, rowing, skiing and fishing are well beyond the reach and means of most people. Because of the lack of the most rudimentary provision, we often find young people venturing into these sports at considerable personal risk. It is certainly right and proper that we should provide adequate facilities for them.
Again we have another valuable gift of nature in abundance, our hills and country-side. They would provide amenities for outdoor pursuits, such as hiking, camping, mountaineering and picnicking if only
273
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272
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
However, since they are all appointed by the Governor as individuals, the Executive and Legislative Councils can only be regarded as advisory bodies to the Colonial Government. As such, these two Councils, as they are presently constituted, do not sufficiently represent the aspira- tions and needs of the people of Hong Kong, particularly our young people, as required in this age of space exploration and dynamic change.
Whilst other reforms such as an Ombudsman system and expansion of the scope of the Urban Council are important, they are of secondary importance when compared to the overriding need to have elected representation in the Legislative Council, which is responsible for the laws which govern the lives of Hong Kong people, the taxes which are collected, and the manner in which such taxes are used to lift up the living standards and quality of life of the people.
If our young people are to have unity of purpose and dedication to Hong Kong, they must acquire a sense of identity and belonging to Hong Kong. A sense of identity in practical terms, Mr. Chairman, means greater participation in the government, in Legislative and Execu- tive Councils, in an expanded Urban Council, and in community affairs at the district level. Our existing colonial-type political institutions will have to be modernized in keeping with the pace of economic and social change of Hong Kong in the 1970's.
The true wealth of a community lies in its men, women and young people-the better the quality, the richer the community. This calls for a higher educational standard and a Hong Kong Identity through more participation in Hong Kong affairs by Hong Kong people, especially within the Legislative Council.
Mr. Chairman, I support the Motion and endorse the Statement of Aims for 1970. (Applause).
(Mrs. C. J. SYMONS left the meeting at this point).
MR. WILSON T. S. WANG:-Mr. Chairman, a great deal has been done in recent years by the Urban Council to provide more and better recreational facilities for the people of Hong Kong, so before I say another word, let credit be given where credit is due. If I go on to say: "Let us then be up and doing" in the hope that we shall leave behind us "footprints in the sands of time", it does not mean that I am overlooking the achievements that have already been done.
But one step always leads to another. Interest and enthusiasm snowball and thus demands for further provision are generated and this forward thrust is a natural phenomenon associated with many forms of public service, for the more we have the more we find wanting and in the case of our recreational facilities this is particularly true.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
273
It is indeed most gratifying to observe that the present trend is towards growing interest in sport and recreation. Whereas at one time, it would have been an effort to convince people of the need for physical recreation, now they seem to have been convinced. And this is just what we have been striving for. This is an extremely healthy sign which none of us would like to discourage by a shortage of facilities. So it is up to us to make provision for them.
But let us examine the existing development:
In the provision of Parks and Playgrounds, we may be able to boast remarkable achievements: the number of public gardens during the last decade has been increased from 45 to 305, children's play- grounds, 19 to 220, grass games pitches, 16 to 37, hardsurfaced mini- soccer pitches, 15 to 65, basketball courts, 28 to 203, volleyball courts, 5 to 79, tennis courts, 18 to 30 and running tracks, 1 to 7.
But let us not be deceived by these figures and be led into com- placency. Impressive as these numbers are, it is quite obvious that when we compare them with the size of our population we are still a long way from adequacy in our provision.
But then when we examine the provision of indoor and covered facilities, we find its development most sadly lacking and in fact Government has not been able to formulate any policy on its develop- ment at all. Let us remember that we have a long hot summer and quite a number of rainy days which very often make open air play- grounds unusable. It should be obvious that some form of shelter is absolutely vital. Multi-storeyed and multi-purpose sports halls should prove the best answer, quite apart from the facilities they provide for a wide variety of sports and games that cannot take place in the open air. The shortage of sites alone call for vertical development in order to gain more usable areas on each given site. Here I suggest that Government should make a policy decision now.
We have miles of harbour and abundance of water surrounding us which is the best gift that nature can provide for most healthy and enjoyable recreation. But the fact is that apart from swimming on the beaches, as things stand at the moment, sports such as sailing, rowing, skiing and fishing are well beyond the reach and means of most people. Because of the lack of the most rudimentary provision, we often find young people venturing into these sports at considerable personal risk. It is certainly right and proper that we should provide adequate facilities for them.
Again we have another valuable gift of nature in abundance, our hills and country-side. They would provide amenities for outdoor pursuits, such as hiking, camping, mountaineering and picnicking if only
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