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myself to considering three problems which I believe to be fundamental and urgent and should have Government's priority.
First of all, I shall speak about the problem of improving and reforming our present education policy for our youth. It is generally acknowledged that our present unrealistic and antiquated education system needs and demands drastic change and improvement.
It should be reorganized to meet the needs of the time so as to lessen the chances of our youth falling into the path of mischief and wickedness. An appropriate education policy is the only effective deterrent for the prevention of juvenile delinquency.
The new enforcement of compulsory primary education is a step worthy of commendation. However, of the 86,000 6th grade primary students or better known as Primary 6 students, we had this year only 69,000 participated in the secondary school examination. Out of these, only 15,200 were lucky enough to be given places in the five-year secondary schools, and 8,950 given places in the subsidized secondary schools for three years. The balance of 62,000 primary graduates had to scramble for places in private schools which unfortunately had only 50,000 places available, and whereas not many parents can afford to pay the high fees charged in the private schools, thus leaving at least over 20,000 students unable to continue their studies.
The average age of these neglected students is about 12. It will be two more years before they will be of age to work in factories. Under such circumstances of no schooling and no work, these youngsters with plenty of time on their hands would easily fall victims of evil influences. This accounts for the growing number of hooligans and young thugs we have today.
Two years ago, I mentioned at this Annual Convention Debate that there was not enough being done to care for the technical and vocational needs of our youth. Our present system is still too much linked to familiarity with text books and learning by heart. It concentrates too much on the importance of examinations and there is still a gap between 12 and 14 years old groups and this gap is an obvious breathing space for delinquency.
Therefore, it is of utmost importance that the Government should establish sufficient secondary schools to accommodate all primary graduates. Pending accomplishment of this goal, the establishment of evening schools might be a useful temporary expedient for students who are unable to continue simply because of school accommodation and finance, and also for over-age students who have been rejected or dropped out because of the present policy.
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If after completing nine years of education, I believe all youths could find suitable jobs in factories to work, then there will be few delinquents to worry about.
Secondly, I would deal with housing, of which much has already been said during the recent Housing Authority Annual Public Meeting. There is no doubt that a serious shortage of public low-cost housing flats still exists as evidenced by the fact that over 190,000 families who are at present on the waiting list need housing of this type or any other type.
Therefore, in spite of the commendable achievement already attained, Government should exert still greater efforts to provide adequate accommodation for all legitimate applicants.
I not only heartily agree with Mr. Paul TSUI, former Commissioner of Resettlement Estates that Resettlement flats should be sold on the instalment plan, but also wish that low-cost housing flats would likewise be disposed of in like manner to the low-income group. The ownership of one's own home will surely help to bring a sense of belonging to the people of Hong Kong.
In preserving social stability, housing is a vital factor in keeping the cost of living down. To have one's own home, one would not have to worry further about the increase of rent in the future. Thus if Government helps the people now to possess their own home, they would appreciate greatly the kind assistance extended to them and would realize that our Government is not just one big landlord who only cares to collect rents and makes a big profit, but actually helps the people to stability. They would then have more confidence in our Government. Stability will then be retained and shall forever remain.
Finally, I wish to touch on the serious question of transportation facing us today in Hong Kong. Hong Kong has about 600 miles of motor roads and about 150,000 motor vehicles. If all these motor vehicles are running on the roads at the same time, it would be almost impossible to move an inch. Even if Government is prepared to finance the project of building a subway, it will take about ten years before it will be completed. Therefore, in the meantime, it will be absolutely necessary for Government to consider expediting the building of more multi-storey car parks and also underground car parks wherever possible in every district and in the meantime to find ways to improve the movement of traffic.
Since the enforcement of fixed fines of $30.00 for parking or any other minor traffic offence one and a half months ago, more than 13,000 tickets have been issued to offenders up to date, but that does not show that our traffic problem has now been improved and parking problem solved. I believe car owners would much prefer to pay higher fees for parking than to have their cars towed away and subject...
Page 183 of 242
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...
Page 183 of 242
Page 182 of 242
344
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
myself to considering three problems which I believe to be fundamental and urgent and should have Government's priority.
First of all, I shall speak about the problem of improving and reforming our present education policy for our youth. It is generally acknowledged that our present unrealistic and antiquated education system needs and demands drastic change and improvement.
It should be reorganized to meet the needs of the time so as to lessen the chances of our youth falling into the path of mischief and wickedness. An appropriate education policy is the only effective deterrent for the prevention of juvenile delinquency.
The new enforcement of compulsory primary education is a step worthy of commendation. However, of the 86,000 6th grade primary students or better known as Primary 6 students, we had this year only 69,000 participated in the secondary school examination. Out of these, only 15,200 were lucky enough to be given places in the five-year secondary schools, and 8,950 given places in the subsidized secondary schools for three years. The balance of 62,000 primary graduates had to scramble for places in private schools which unfortunately had only 50,000 places available, and whereas not many parents can afford to pay the high fees charged in the private schools, thus leaving at least over 20,000 students unable to continue their studies.
The average age of these neglected students is about 12. It will be two more years before they will be of age to work in factories. Under such circumstances of no schooling and no work, these young- sters with plenty of time on their hands would easily fall victims of evil influences. This accounts for the growing number of hooligans and young thugs we have today.
Two years ago, I mentioned at this Annual Conventional Debate that there was not enough being done to care for the technical and vocational needs of our youth. Our present system is still too much linked to familiarity with text books and learning by heart. It con- centrates too much on the importance of examinations and there is still a gap between 12 and 14 years old groups and this gap is an obvious breathing space for delinquency.
Therefore, it is of utmost importance that the Government should establish sufficient secondary schools to accommodate all primary graduates. Pending accomplishment of this goal, the establishment of evening schools might be a useful temporary expedient for students who are unable to continue simply because of school accommodation and finance, and also for over-age students who have been rejected or dropped out because of the present policy.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
345
If after completing nine years of education, I believe all youths could find suitable jobs in factories to work, then there will be few delinquents to worry about.
Secondly, I would deal with housing, of which much have already been said during the recent Housing Authority Annual Public Meeting. There is no doubt that a serious shortage of public low cost housing flats still exists as evidenced by the fact that over 190,000 families who are at present on the waiting list need housing of this type or any other type.
Therefore, in spite of the commendable achievement already attained.
Government should exert still greater efforts to provide adequate accommodation for all legitimate applicants.
I not only heartily agree with Mr. Paul TSUI, former Commis- sioner of Resettlement Estates that Resettlement flats should be sold on the instalment plan, but also wish that low cost housing flats would likewise be disposed of in like manner to the low income group. The ownership of one's own home will surely help to bring a sense of belonging to the people of Hong Kong.
In preserving social stability, housing is a vital factor in keeping the cost of living down. To have one's own home one would not have to worry further of the increase of rent in the future. Thus if Government helps the people now to possess their own home, they would appreciate greatly for the kind assistance extended to them and would realize that our Government is not just one big landlord who only cares to collect rents and makes big profit, but actually helps the people to stability. They would then have more confidence in our Government. Stability will then be retained and shall forever remain.
Finally I wish to touch on the serious question of transportation facing us today in Hong Kong. Hong Kong has about 600 miles of motor roads and about 150,000 motor vehicles. If all these motor vehicles are running on the roads at the same time it would be almost impossible to move an inch. Even if Government is prepared to finance the project of building a subway, it will take about ten years before it will be completed. Therefore in the meantime it will be absolutely necessary for Government to consider to expedite the build- ing of more multi-storey car parks and also underground car parks wherever possible in every district and in the mean time to find ways to improve the movement of traffic.
Since the enforcement of fixed fines of $30.00 for parking or any other minor traffic offence one and a half month ago, more than 13,000 tickets have been issued to offenders up to date, but that does not show that our traffic problem has now been improved and parking problem solved. I believe car owners would much prefer to pay higher fees for parking than to have their cars towed away and subject
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