Page 149 of 237
I
HATA BAF Homes.
DDI
Deen
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276
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
for the overhauling of the entire Medical Department set-up; equalization of pay structures and better opportunities for local staff; more and better housing; the need to root out corruption; injustice in the courts. And so on
Progress in all these matters I have mentioned has been merely in the form of propaganda stunts, but the fundamental problems remain.
For years, too, there has been a call for an ombudsman for Hong Kong to look into blatant cases of injustice. Many substitutes have been offered, all costing the taxpayers money, but none fulfilling the purpose of justice.
We have been given Oliver Twist treatment--blamed for daring to ask for more for the underprivileged.
If we do not ASK, we are told there is no demand; if we DO ask, our demands are ignored; if we petition, our petitions are neglected; and if we ask for investigations, no proper investigation is held.
In these circumstances, I consider it a waste of time and words to repeat the same old things, year after year, at annual debates. The needs are obvious to all but the wilfully blind; while the Government's determination to ignore all these needs is all too obvious. There is therefore no need for me to repeat these demands. I can only state here and now that I shall never give up the struggle for all the principles mentioned, and others besides, wherever a need arises. I shall also continue, in co-operation with my Colleagues, to work in the ward and do my utmost to help the underprivileged, and others who suffer from injustices. I shall continue to take up any cause I consider should be taken up, without fear or favour.
My lack of words today should be taken to mean that I am tired of words, and from now on only want to see action. I support the Motion. (Applause).
MR. R. H. LOBO:- Mr. Chairman, almost three years ago today, I began my address by saying that that was the year of records in almost every field. The progress achieved since then by Government and private enterprise has made those records only a part of Hong Kong's ever-increasing prosperity and growth.
As we progress, naturally we find growth in the congestion in our streets, growth in the number of newspaper columns relating to crime and growth in the number of visitors, many of whom join our residents in silent prayers when they have to cross Queen's Road Central from the Hilton Hotel or the bus stops in front of Beaconsfield House to the opposite pavement, specially when the left is our right side which is the wrong side for them.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
277
In Hong Kong, as in every progressive community, the habits of the people are subject to change according to the times, circumstances and standard of living of the community.
Statistics will indicate that, although there has been a moderate increase in the demand for fresh meat and poultry, there has been a marked increase in the demand for frozen meat and poultry for local consumption.
Annual imports of frozen meat have increased from 34 million pounds in 1962 to 90 million pounds in 1968, an increase of 164%.
Similarly, frozen poultry imports have increased from 13 million pounds in 1962 to 44.5 million pounds in 1968, an increase of 242%.
The winds of change have been felt in our markets, where many stalls have begun to sell frozen meat in addition to fresh meat and in some cases have begun to deal only in frozen meat and poultry.
With this rapid growth in the demand for frozen food, we have to think of our public markets in a more sophisticated way and to allow the butchers, the poultry dealers and the fish mongers with facilities to sell both fresh and frozen food. We must also deviate from the old thinking and allow the sale of other commodities in our markets so that shoppers may find within the four walls of the market, their day's requirements, rather than to be forced to shop outside the market as well.
I trust, Sir, that your Department has begun reviewing the Market By-Laws and Procedures with a view to suggesting suitable amendments to keep up with progress and times.
While I am sure that the 17 new markets in our building programme, when completed, will bring considerable improvements in the provision of marketing facilities in high density residential areas, these projects will take time and progress will be rather slow.
In the meantime, we have a very pressing hawking problem in the Resettlement Estates and to solve this problem, we require early provision of adequate facilities in particular for the illegal meat, poultry and fish hawkers. I hope that the building of small markets quickly in Resettlement Estates will soon become a reality.
Contrary to the belief of many, hawking is today a well-organized and a rather profitable business. This tends to attract more and more persons who could otherwise take other ways of making a living, to choose hawking instead, and this has increased the magnitude and the difficulty of our problem. While there is still apparently quite a long road ahead of us before the situation shows significant and visible improvement, it is of over-riding importance that maximum efforts from
Page 150 of 237
Page 149 of 237
I
HATA BAFhomes.
DDI
Deen
I
276
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
for the overhauling of the entire Medical Department set-up; equaliza- tion of pay structures and better opportunities for local staff; more and better housing; the need to root out corruption; injustice in the courts. And so on
Progress in all these matters I have mentioned has been merely in the form of propaganda stunts, but the fundamental problems remain.
For years, too, there has been a call for an ombudsman for Hong Kong to look into blatant cases of injustice. Many substitutes have been offered, all costing the taxpayers money, but none fulfilling the purpose of justice.
We have been given Oliver Twist treatment--blamed for daring to ask for more for the underprivileged.
If we do not ASK, we are told there is no demand; if we DO ask, our demands are ignored; if we petition, our petitions are neglected; and if we ask for investigations, no proper investigation is held.
In these circumstances, I consider it a waste of time and words to repeat the same old things, year after year, at annual debates. The needs are obvious to all but the wilfully blind; while the Government's determination to ignore all these needs is all too obvious. There is therefore no need for me to repeat these demands. I can only state here and now that I shall never give up the struggle for all the principles mentioned, and others besides, wherever a need arises. I shall also continue, in co-operation with my Colleagues, to work in the ward and do my utmost to help the underprivileged, and others who suffer from injustices. I shall continue to take up any cause I consider should be taken up, without fear or favour.
My lack of words today should be taken to mean that I am tired of words, and from now on only want to see action. I support the Motion. (Applause).
MR. R. H. LOBO:-Mr. Chairman, almost three years ago today, I began my address by saying that that was the year of records in almost every field. The progress achieved since then by Government and private enterprise has made those records only a part of Hong Kong's ever-increasing prosperity and growth.
As we progress, naturally we find growth in the congestion in our streets, growth in the number of newspaper columns relating to crime and growth in the number of visitors, many of whom join our residents in silent prayers when they have to cross Queen's Road Central from the Hilton Hotel or the bus stops in front of Beaconsfield House to the opposite pavement, specially when the left is our right side which is the wrong side for them.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
277
In Hong Kong, as in every progressive community, the habits of the people are subject to change according to the times, circumstances and standard of living of the community.
Statistics will indicate that, although there has been a moderate increase in the demand for fresh meat and poultry, there has been a marked increase in the demand for frozen meat and poultry for local consumption.
Annual imports of frozen meat have increased from 34 million pounds in 1962 to 90 million pounds in 1968, an increase of 164%.
Similarly, frozen poultry imports have increased from 13 million pounds in 1962 to 44.5 million pounds in 1968, an increase of 242%.
The winds of change have been felt in our markets, where many stalls have begun to sell frozen meat in addition to fresh meat and in some cases have begun to deal only in frozen meat and poultry.
With this rapid growth in the demand for frozen food, we have to think of our public markets in a more sophisticated way and to allow the butchers, the poultry dealers and the fish mongers with facilities to sell both fresh and frozen food. We must also deviate from the old thinking and allow the sale of other commodities in our markets so that shoppers may find within the four walls of the market, their day's requirements, rather than to be forced to shop outside the market as well.
I trust, Sir, that your Department has begun reviewing the Market By-Laws and Procedures with a view to suggesting suitable amend- ments to keep up with progress and times.
While I am sure that the 17 new markets in our building pro- gramme, when completed, will bring considerable improvements in the provision of marketing facilities in high density residential areas, these projects will take time and progress will be rather slow.
In the meantime, we have a very pressing hawking problem in the Resettlement Estates and to solve this problem, we require early provi- sion of adequate facilities in particular for the illegal meat, poultry and fish hawkers. I hope that the building of small markets quickly in Resettlement Estates will soon become a reality.
Contrary to the belief of many, hawking is today a well organized and a rather profitable business. This tends to attract more and more persons who could otherwise take other ways of making a living, to choose hawking instead, and this has increased the magnitude and the difficulty of our problem. While there is still apparently quite a long road ahead of us before the situation shows significant and visible improvement, it is of over-riding importance that maximum efforts from
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