1969 — Page 181

Page 181 of 237

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

Mr. Chairman, I think my speech is short, but in the management of affairs it is deeds and not words that count. If because of the few words I have spoken, some action is taken which will lead to a betterment of the situation I have mentioned, then I should be very happy indeed.

With these words, Mr. Chairman, I am glad to support the Motion. (Applause).

MRS. C. J. SYMONS: - Mr. Chairman, I see you have left the last word to a woman which makes me quite sure you are both a gentleman and a wise family man.

In supporting the Motion before the Council, I am delighted to be the last speaker on the Unofficial side, since much of what I shall say has in fact been dealt with most efficiently and eloquently by my Colleagues, and I need not worry that anything of vital importance to the Council and the general public has been left out. I feel, therefore, particularly care-free on this score. On further reflection, however, I realize that there is almost nothing left for me to say: and one is faced with the dilemma of saying nothing which would be practical and kind at this juncture of the proceedings, or of trying to say something different and exciting; which is of course equally impossible.

I would like to take this first opportunity of thanking you, Mr. Chairman and members of your staff, particularly Mr. TINSON for making me welcome in your midst. I am equally grateful to my Colleagues, the Unofficials, for their patient forbearance in helping me to cope with so many new problems. The failure to do so is entirely mine. The warmth of my welcome makes it very difficult for me to dwell for a moment or two on some matters of importance to the Council; but I really feel it incumbent on me to declare just where I think I stand.

I have never been known for my tact, and although I mean no offence for I deeply respect the sincere and perhaps wise motives of those of my Colleagues who worked so long, and earnestly and carefully to produce the Report on the Reform of Local Government, I regard it as my first public duty and my first Annual Debate to say that I cannot support the proposals that this Council should in time be responsible for several Government Departments, including one I know well, the Education Department. In my humble opinion, we have not the time, and we do not have the real expertise to do it. In this connection, I must confess I have been embarrassed many a time by being called an educational expert. A teacher I have been for three decades, and I am very happy to work with the young, but I am no expert.

Page 182 of 237 is not present, continuing with the text

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

Let us, by all means, continue to take an intelligent and watchful interest in the work of the departments listed in the Report, as indeed we must; but can we be reasonably sure to succeed where professional civil servants may have failed. Our duty to the people of Hong Kong must lie in seeing that these civil servants do not fail. Speaking personally, I have no wish to be in that sense an "employer" of a civil servant without myself being under the discipline of the service itself. If the machinery that exists today must be improved and streamlined so that crass incompetence or indifference or even lack of integrity must be dealt with properly, let us work towards a change of command within the service to deal with the problem. I, for one, would not want to do that work on this Council.

Several of my Colleagues have spoken with feeling and serious conviction about the need for an Ombudsman in our city. I agree with them that human nature being what it is, men and governments are imperfect.

"The millennium cannot be translated into reality" a noted Labour Party leader of the 1950's once said, "it leads to inhumanity: for imperfect men have to be governed as if they were perfect." If there is so much weeding to be done, a super gardener in the guise of an ombudsman will not be effective. All must be plucked out. The relatively minor mistakes and misunderstandings that occur daily will be too numerous for one ombudsman to deal with. In such matters, we ordinary citizens of Hong Kong who are in a position to help poor, unfortunate, ignorant and impressionable people get a square deal from our civil servants, whenever necessary, should do so as a matter of principle, and in full co-operation with others in our Community. This type of assistance has been rendered by unsung heroes and heroines for many a long year. Every now and again, a really serious mistake will be made by a civil servant: such scandalous misdemeanour must not be covered up, and collectively we must see that it is not. If the will to be fair exists in us, we do not need to pay for an expensive "inspector general" just yet. Are we reluctant to be involved? If so, no system of an ombudsman can work here, in Hong Kong, which is so different from the other places where the system has been established and is claimed to work.

Let us be unpaid ombudsmen, fellow Councillors and all public-spirited folk of Hong Kong. Individually, we will not have access to files, but collectively, and in a correct manner, much can be accomplished. After all, one can keep writing to the press, if nothing else. Those of us who are Urban Councillors know that in our Ward Offices we have an opportunity to serve in this way, though it is never easy to explain to a harassed and poor person that Government is not a monster bent on his annihilation. Perhaps we could help in another

339

Page 183 of 237