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the Botanic Gardens which, in an extraordinarily confined space, provides a fascinating collection of birds.
To improve the quality of life we need a much more action and imagination. I do not know what our "shadow committee" the Hong Kong Advisory Committee for Recreational Development and Nature Conservation has been up to since its Interim Report for 1971. It appears, however, that the Wong Nei Chong, Pok Fu Lam and Aberdeen Reservoirs may soon be available for redevelopment, opening up large areas of recreational interest. There is opportunity here for creating a large leisure complex with facilities for walking, swimming, riding, rowing, dingy sailing, as well as sitting-out points and picnic spots. I suggest the introduction of small nature reserves for animals such as deer, perhaps on the "open range" principle which has become so popular elsewhere. Might I also enquire what is developing with regard to Cape D'Aguilar area which appears at present, to be, a semi-private reserve shut off from easy public access.
Finally, when, oh! when, will we be given firm assurances by Government that finance is available to continue our swimming pool programme?
Law and Order
I will deviate a bit from the text here, because my next comments concern Law and Order and much of the thunder of Page 9 has been removed by the statement of the Attorney General yesterday. I share with my colleagues on this Council the concern which is felt by the escalating crime situation and particularly the growing incidence of fear which is being created by the knife-wielding element of our population. There are two points which I have made in my initial statement. I in fact anticipated this mandatory sentence, but I suggested a mandatory sentence of two years rather than six months minimum. However, let us hope that the seriousness of these crimes will be recognized and that punishments will be meted out accordingly. On the question of police on the beat, I think everything must be done to increase the numbers. Certain action has been taken but it has been put forward before, and I would support the view that we should create a force of traffic wardens to take over some of the duties of the traffic branch perhaps the Special Branch as well if Mrs. ELLIOTT would agree. Women, I think also might be used in larger numbers. It is not uncommon to find police women in other major cities in the world directing traffic, and I think this allied with the new recruitment of civilians and other measures being taken would perhaps put an additional numbers of police on the beat which would assist to ensure the protection of the citizens. On the question of implementation of the new measures pronounced by the Attorney General, I think that we
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
285
must adopt a very harsh, as we have done, attitude on the question of knives. There should be a total ban, as, will be I believe, on the carriage of these instruments. I suggest a period of amnesty, a short period, during which all lethal weapons of this nature can be handed in to Police stations following which there should be concentrated "Stop-and-search" operations under organized squads. I hope not individual policeman because this could lead to unfortunate incidents, and following that period the law should deal very heavily indeed with those persons who find it necessary to move around our streets carrying weapons of a lethal nature.
I am quite sure that the action proposed by the Attorney General has the support of most of this Council, and certainly most of the public, and is a great encouragement to the broad mass of the community.
Conclusion
So much remains to be said, and so many questions are unanswered, that one wonders about the adequacy of this system of "Annual Debates". It seems that once a year we are indulgently permitted to relieve ourselves of our thoughts and frustrations. Thereafter, we are to lapse into the well-tried system of an occasional question to Authority and a reply of varying merit. I hope that we can find some better way of communicating in future.
In this Debate we have spoken of many desirable developments. In the past year we have heard much about improving the "quality of life" of the people of Hong Kong. We have entered a 10-year planning period which promises to be amongst the most exciting in Hong Kong's history. The ground-work has been laid for great progress. Let this Council do its share in tackling the jobs ahead with vigour and determination.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I have spoken too much and too long. I will take your time no longer and will gladly support the motion. (Applause).
(Dr. Denny M. H. HUANG left the meeting at this point.)
MR. HENRY WONG (In Cantonese): - Mr. Chairman, I take it as a great pleasure to speak at this meeting in Chinese today. I owe this to the incessant efforts of the Members of this Council who had for years fought for and, now succeeded in securing, a wider use of the Chinese language in the Council.
Page 153 of 206
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
the Botanic Gardens which, in an extraordinarily confined space, pro-
vides a fascinating collection of birds.
To improve the quality of life we need a much more action and imagination. I do not know what our "shadow committee" the Hong Kong Advisory Committee for Recreational Development and Nature Conservation-has been up to since its Interim Report for 1971. It appears, however, that the Wong Nei Chong, Pok Fu Lam and Aberdeen Reservoirs may soon be available for redevelopment, opening up large areas of recreational interest. There is opportunity here for creating a large leisure complex with facilities for walking, swimming, riding, rowing, dingy sailing, as well as sitting-out points and picnic spots. I suggest the introduction of small nature reserves for animals such as deer, perhaps on the "open range" principle which has become so popular elsewhere. Might I also enquire what is developing with regard to Cape D'Aguilar area which appears at present, to be, a semi-private reserve shut off from easy public access.
Finally, when, oh! when, will we be given firm assurances by Government that finance is available to continue our swimming pool programme?
Law and Order
I will deviate a bit from the text here, because my next comments concern Law and Order and much of the thunder of Page 9 has been removed by the statement of the Attorney General yesterday. I share with my colleagues on this Council the concern which is felt by the escalating crime situation and particularly the growing incidence of fear which is being created by the knife-wielding element of our population. There are two points which I have made in my initial statement. I in fact anticipated this mandatory sentence, but I suggested a manda- tory sentence of two years rather than six months minimum. How- ever, let us hope that the seriousness of these crimes will be recognized and that punishments will be meted out accordingly. On the question of police on the beat, I think everything must be done to increase the numbers. Certain action has been taken but it has been put forward before, and I would support the view that we should create a force of traffic wardens to take over some of the duties of the traffic branch perhaps the Special Branch as well if Mrs. ELLIOTT would agree. Women, I think also might be used in larger numbers. It is not un- common to find police women in other major cities in the world directing traffic, and I think this allied with the new recruitment of civilians and other measures being taken would perhaps put an addi tional numbers of police on the beat which would assist to ensure the protection of the citizens. On the question of implementation of the new measures pronounced by the Attorney General, I think that we
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
285
must adopt a very harsh, as we have done, attitude on the question of knives. There should be a total ban, as, will be I believe, on the carriage of these instruments. I suggest a period of amnesty, a a short period, during which all lethal weapons of this period, perhaps rature can be handed in to Police stations following which there should be concentrated "Stop-and-search" operations under organized squads. I hope not individual policeman because this could lead to unfortunate incidents, and following that period the law should deal very heavily indeed with those persons who find it necessary to move around our streets carrying weapons of a lethal nature.
I am quite sure that the action proposed by the Attorney General has the support of most of this Council, and certainly most of the public, and is a great encouragement to the broad mass of the community.
Conclusion
So much remains to be said, and so many questions are un- answered, that one wonders about the adequacy of this system of "Annual Debates". It seems that once a year we are indulgently permitted to relieve ourselves of our thoughts and frustrations. There- after, we are to lapse into the well-tried system of an occasional question to Authority and a reply of varying merit. I hope that we can find some better way of communicating in future.
In this Debate we have spoken of many desirable developments. In the past year we have heard much about improving the "quality of life" of the people of Hong Kong. We have entered a 10-year planning period which promises to be amongst the most exciting in Hong Kong's history. The ground-work has been laid for great progress. Let this Council do its share in tackling the jobs ahead with vigour and determination.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I have spoken too much and too long. I will take your time no longer and will gladly support the motion. (Applause).
(Dr. Denny M. H. HUANG left the meeting at this point.)
MR. HENRY WONG (In Cantonese): -Mr. Chairman, I take it as
a great pleasure to speak at this meeting in Chinese today. I owe this to the incessant efforts of the Members of this Council who had for years fought for and, now succeeded in securing, a wider use of the Chinese language in the Council.
Page 153 of 206
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