1972 — Page 157

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed

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292

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

is an Education Committee that is composed mainly of local councillors. Now, this progressive Governor has announced plans to have over 300,000 more places in secondary schools in a new expansion plan. I demand that we should have some say in this new project and I charge the Urban Councillors not to forget their duties to the citizens of Hong Kong, which includes the teachers who should be given a fair deal by the Government making provisions for medical allowances and housing grants in addition to their ordinary salaries. The whole future generation of Hong Kong people depend upon the way they are educated.

I now turn to the Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign. We are now half way through the final and most important month, and I am pleased to see the co-operation from all Hong Kong citizens. The Reform Club, in its own small way, I am pleased to tell you, have contributed to this Campaign by specially informing all its almost 40,000 members to actively support this Campaign, and all our correspondence with members specifically refers to this Campaign. But we must all make sure that this does not end at the end of November. Hong Kong, having been cleaned up, it is the citizens' duty to keep it clean, and I am sure, having seen what can be done, they will give the support necessary in the interest of the welfare of the people.

Finally, I come to the Housing Programme. I admire the Governor for proposing this crash building programme that I believe is bigger than any other programme in the world, and it is only possible because of the basis soundness of Hong Kong's economy. Having said this, I would request consideration be given to housing 2 million people over 5 years, not 10 years. The problem is that too many people have to wait too long. Surely the project can be financed not only from Government revenue, but loans to Government in the form of Government bonds, and I am sure that the Banks in Hong Kong will also advance the necessary money. With this extensive building programme, I must insist that early consideration be given to re-organize the maximum limits of income on low-cost housing estates. It is, at the present cost of living, utterly unrealistic to have a maximum limit based upon four or five or six hundred dollars a month. A man, with a wife and several small children, nowadays, has to earn very much more than a thousand dollars a month to meet the cost of living excluding the rent of his home. It is, with this in mind, that I ask the Government to classify the Government's figure of 1,800,000. Is that sufficient or should it be very much more? If the present programme could be speeded up to five years, I personally think that we should have another 5 years to house the remainder in excess of the present figure of 1.8 million.

Finally, I wish to thank the Chairman for his guidance in this Council's work. There are a great deal of benefits, and although they are not altogether too satisfactory, I feel that those present feel that they have done a satisfactory job for the people of Hong Kong, and I hope this Council in future will implement even more policy for the benefit of the people and for the future good work of this Council. I hope to follow you all in making a greater effort.

With these words, I am pleased to support the motion. (Applause).

MR. BROOK BERNACCHI (In English):-Mr. Chairman, the first motion I ever moved in the Urban Council was about housing. At that time, there was literally no Public, i.e. Government Housing at all. Even Resettlement being confined to sites where certain, almost privileged, people could build cottages at their own expenses. Apart from that, neither the Urban Council nor the Government generally were having anything to do with housing whatsoever. I, on behalf of the Reform Club, was urging a complete reversal of this position. This motion was not seconded as I was then the only Reform Club member on the Urban Council, but the next year, when the Reform Club swept the polls, the Urban Council appointed a special Committee to recommend changes in policies for Resettlement, and largely as a result of this Special Committee Report, the big Government housing (Resettlement) Estates were started.

At the same time, I sat as a member of a Special Committee appointed by the Governor to make recommendations on future housing generally, and by reason of its recommendation, the Housing Authority, really the Urban Council under another cost, came into existence. I was also on the Government-appointed Working Party on Housing in 1963. Indeed, I, on behalf of the Reform Club, have always been interested in public housing for the citizens of Hong Kong, regarding it as one of Hong Kong's biggest problems. I personally was at all times on, and from time to time, Chairman of the various Resettlement Select Committees of the Urban Council, and on the Executive Committee of the Housing Authority, as was also other big Reform Club names such as Alison BELL, Raymond LEE, Philip Au, and little later Henry Hu. Therefore, I consider that the extent of Public Housing today is the Reform Club's biggest achievements over past 20 years. I give this introduction, not for the purpose of blowing my own trumpet, or even that of the Reform Club, but to explain how simply thrilled I was at the Governor's announcement of a crash plan for building, not only domestic accommodation, which was, despite opposition from the Reform Club, always the Government's plan in the past, but entirely self-contained estates with adequate educational and medical facilities, playing fields, and entertainment generally. This Governor is what Hong Kong has been looking for, for a long time, and we must co-operate with him to make this crash

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

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106 292 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL is an Education Committee that is composed mainly of local councillors. Now, this progressive Governor has announced plans to have over 300,000 more places in secondary schools in a new expansion plan. I demand that we should have some say in this new project and I charge the Urban Councillors not to forget their duties to the citizens of Hong Kong, which includes the teachers who should be given a fair deal by the Government making provisions for medical allowances and housing grants in addition to their ordinary salaries. The whole future generation of Hong Kong people depend upon the way they are educated. I now turn to the Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign. We are now half way through the final and most important month, and I am pleased to see the co-operation from all Hong Kong citizens. The Reform Club, in its own small way, I am pleased to tell you, have contributed to this Campaign by specially informing all its almost 40,000 members to actively support this Campaign, and all our correspondence with members specifically refers to this Campaign. But we must all make sure that this does not end at the end of November. Hong Kong, having been cleaned up, it is the citizens' duty to keep it clean, and I am sure, having seen what can be done, they will give the support necessary in the interest of the welfare of the people. Finally, I come to the Housing Programme. I admire the Governor for proposing this crash building programme that I believe is bigger than any other programme in the world, and it is only possible because of the basis soundness of Hong Kong's economy. Having said this, I would request consideration be given to housing 2 million people over 5 years, not 10 years. The problem is that too many people have to wait too long. Surely the project can be financed not only from Government revenue, but loans to Government in the form of Government bonds, and I am sure that the Banks in Hong Kong will also advance the necessary money. With this extensive building programme, I must insist that early consideration be given to re-organize the maximum limits of income on low-cost housing estates. It is, at the present cost of living, utterly unrealistic to have a maximum limit based upon four or five or six hundred dollars a month. A man, with a wife and several small children, nowadays, has to earn very much more than a thousand dollars a month to meet the cost of living excluding the rent of his home. It is, with this in mind, that I ask the Government to classify the Government's figure of 1,800,000. Is that sufficient or should it be very much more? If the present programme could be speeded up to five years, I personally think that we should have another 5 years to house the remainder in excess of the present figure of 1.8 million. Finally, I wish to thank the Chairman for his guidance in this Council's work. There are a great deal of benefits, and although they are not altogether too satisfactory, I feel that those present feel that they have done a satisfactory job for the people of Hong Kong, and I hope this Council in future will implement even more policy for the benefit of the people and for the future good work of this Council. I hope to follow you all in making a greater effort. With these words, I am pleased to support the motion. (Applause). MR. BROOK BERNACCHI (In English):-Mr. Chairman, the first motion I ever moved in the Urban Council was about housing. At that time, there was literally no Public, i.e. Government Housing at all. Even Resettlement being confined to sites where certain, almost privileged, people could build cottages at their own expenses. Apart from that, neither the Urban Council nor the Government generally were having anything to do with housing whatsoever. I, on behalf of the Reform Club, was urging a complete reversal of this position. This motion was not seconded as I was then the only Reform Club member on the Urban Council, but the next year, when the Reform Club swept the polls, the Urban Council appointed a special Committee to recommend changes in policies for Resettlement, and largely as a result of this Special Committee Report, the big Government housing (Resettlement) Estates were started. At the same time, I sat as a member of a Special Committee appointed by the Governor to make recommendations on future housing generally, and by reason of its recommendation, the Housing Authority, really the Urban Council under another cost, came into existence. I was also on the Government-appointed Working Party on Housing in 1963. Indeed, I, on behalf of the Reform Club, have always been interested in public housing for the citizens of Hong Kong, regarding it as one of Hong Kong's biggest problems. I personally was at all times on, and from time to time, Chairman of the various Resettlement Select Committees of the Urban Council, and on the Executive Committee of the Housing Authority, as was also other big Reform Club names such as Alison BELL, Raymond LEE, Philip Au, and little later Henry Hu. Therefore, I consider that the extent of Public Housing today is the Reform Club's biggest achievements over past 20 years. I give this introduction, not for the purpose of blowing my own trumpet, or even that of the Reform Club, but to explain how simply thrilled I was at the Governor's announcement of a crash plan for building, not only domestic accommodation, which was, despite opposition from the Reform Club, always the Government's plan in the past, but entirely self-contained estates with adequate educational and medical facilities, playing fields, and entertainment generally. This Governor is what Hong Kong has been looking for, for a long time, and we must co-operate with him to make this crash HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 293 Page 157 of 206
Baseline (Original)
106 292 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL is an Education Committee that is composed mainly of local councillors. Now, this progressive Governor has announced plans to have over 300,000 more places in secondary schools in a new expansion plan. I demand that we should have some say in this new project and I charge the Urban Councillors not to forget their duties to the citizens of Hong Kong which includes the teachers who should be given a fair deal by the Government making provisions for medical allowances and housing grants in addition to their ordinary salaries. The whole future generation of Hong Kong people depend upon the way they are educated. I now turn to the Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign. We are now half way through the final and most important month and I am pleased to see the co-operation from all Hong Kong citizens. The Reform Club in its own small way, I am pleased to tell you, have contributed to this Campaign by specially informing all its almost 40,000 members to actively support this Campaign, and all our cor- respondence with members specifically refers to this Campaign. But we must all make sure that this does not end at the end of November. Hong Kong, having been cleaned up, it is the citizens' duty to keep it clean and I am sure, having seen what can be done, they will give the support necessary in the interest of the welfare of the people. Finally, I come to the Housing Programme. I admire the Governor for proposing this crash building programme that I believe, is bigger than any other programme in the world and it is only possible because of the basis soundness of Hong Kong's economy. Having said this, I would request consideration be given to housing 2 million people over 5 years, not 10 years. The problem is that too many people have to wait too long. Surely the project can be financed not only from Government revenue, but loans to Government in the form of Government bonds and I am sure that the Banks in Hong Kong will also advance the necessary money. With this exten- sive building programme, I must insist that early consideration be given to re-organize the maximum limits of income on low cost hous- ing estates. It is, at the present cost of living, utterly unrealistic to have a maximum limit based upon four or five or six hundred dollars a month. A man, with a wife and several small children, nowadays, has to earn very much more than a thousand dollars a month to meet the cost of living excluding the rent of his home. It is, with this in mind, that I ask the Government to classify the Government's figure of 1,800,000. Is that sufficient or should it be very much more. If the present programme could be speeded up to five years, I personally think that we should have another 5 years to house the remainder in excess of the present figure of 1.8 million. Finally, I wish to thank the Chairman for his guidance in this Council's work. There are a great deal of benefits and although they HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 293 are not altogether too satisfactory, I feel that those present feel that they have done a satisfactory job for the people of Hong Kong and I hope this Council in future will implement even more policy for the benefit of the people and for the future good work of this Council. I hope to follow you all in making a greater effort. With these words, I am pleased to support the motion. (Applause). MR. BROOK BERNACCHI (In English):-Mr. Chairman, the first motion I ever moved in the Urban Council was about housing. At that time, there was literally no Public i.e. Government Housing at all. Even Resettlement being confied to sites where certain, almost pri- viledged, people could build cottages at their own expenses. Apart from that, neither the Urban Council nor the Government generally were not having anything to do with housing whatsoever. I, on behalf of the Reform Club, was urging a complete reversal of this position. This motion was not seconded as I was then the only Reform Club member on the Urban Council, but the next year, when the Reform Club swept the polls, the Urban Council appointed a special Committee to recommend changes in policies for Resettlement and largely as a result of this, Special Committee Report, the big Government housing (Resettlement) Estates were stated. At the same time, I sat as a member of a Special Committee appointed by the Governor to make recommendations on future housing generally and by reason of its recommendation, the Housing Authority, really the Urban Council under another cost, came into existence. I was also on the Government appointed Working Party on Housing in 1963. Indeed I, on behalf of the Reform Club, have always been interested in public housing for the citizens of Hong Kong, regarding it as one of Hong Kong's biggest problems. I personally was at all times on, and from time to time, Chairman of the various Resettlement Select Committees of the Urban Council and on the Executive Committee of the Housing Authority, as was also other big Reform Club names such as Alison BELL, Raymond LEE, Philip Au and little later Henry Hu. Therefore I consider that the extent of Public Housing today is the Reform Club's biggest achievements over past 20 years. I give this introduction, not for the purpose of blowing my own trumpet, or even that of the Reform Club but to explain how simply thrilled I was at the Governor's announcement of a crash plan for building, not only domestic accommodation which, was despite opposition from the Reform Club, always the Governments plan in the past, but entirely self-contained estates with adequate educational and medical facilities, playing fields and entertainment generally. This Governor, is what Hong Kong has been looking for, for a long time and we must co-operate with him to make this crash Page 157 of 206
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106

292

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

is an Education Committee that is composed mainly of local councillors. Now, this progressive Governor has announced plans to have over 300,000 more places in secondary schools in a new expansion plan. I demand that we should have some say in this new project and I charge the Urban Councillors not to forget their duties to the citizens of Hong Kong which includes the teachers who should be given a fair deal by the Government making provisions for medical allowances and housing grants in addition to their ordinary salaries. The whole future generation of Hong Kong people depend upon the way they are educated.

I now turn to the Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign. We are now half way through the final and most important month and I am pleased to see the co-operation from all Hong Kong citizens. The Reform Club in its own small way, I am pleased to tell you, have contributed to this Campaign by specially informing all its almost 40,000 members to actively support this Campaign, and all our cor- respondence with members specifically refers to this Campaign. But we must all make sure that this does not end at the end of November. Hong Kong, having been cleaned up, it is the citizens' duty to keep it clean and I am sure, having seen what can be done, they will give the support necessary in the interest of the welfare of the people.

Finally, I come to the Housing Programme. I admire the Governor for proposing this crash building programme that I believe, is bigger than any other programme in the world and it is only possible because of the basis soundness of Hong Kong's economy. Having said this, I would request consideration be given to housing 2 million people over 5 years, not 10 years. The problem is that too many people have to wait too long. Surely the project can be financed not only from Government revenue, but loans to Government in the form of Government bonds and I am sure that the Banks in Hong Kong will also advance the necessary money. With this exten- sive building programme, I must insist that early consideration be given to re-organize the maximum limits of income on low cost hous- ing estates. It is, at the present cost of living, utterly unrealistic to have a maximum limit based upon four or five or six hundred dollars a month. A man, with a wife and several small children, nowadays, has to earn very much more than a thousand dollars a month to meet the cost of living excluding the rent of his home. It is, with this in mind, that I ask the Government to classify the Government's figure of 1,800,000. Is that sufficient or should it be very much more. If the present programme could be speeded up to five years, I personally think that we should have another 5 years to house the remainder in excess of the present figure of 1.8 million.

Finally, I wish to thank the Chairman for his guidance in this Council's work. There are a great deal of benefits and although they

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

293

are not altogether too satisfactory, I feel that those present feel that they have done a satisfactory job for the people of Hong Kong and I hope this Council in future will implement even more policy for the benefit of the people and for the future good work of this Council. I hope to follow you all in making a greater effort.

With these words, I am pleased to support the motion. (Applause).

MR. BROOK BERNACCHI (In English):-Mr. Chairman, the first motion I ever moved in the Urban Council was about housing. At that time, there was literally no Public i.e. Government Housing at all. Even Resettlement being confied to sites where certain, almost pri- viledged, people could build cottages at their own expenses. Apart from that, neither the Urban Council nor the Government generally were not having anything to do with housing whatsoever. I, on behalf of the Reform Club, was urging a complete reversal of this position. This motion was not seconded as I was then the only Reform Club member on the Urban Council, but the next year, when the Reform Club swept the polls, the Urban Council appointed a special Committee to recommend changes in policies for Resettlement and largely as a result of this, Special Committee Report, the big Government housing (Resettlement) Estates were stated.

At the same time, I sat as a member of a Special Committee appointed by the Governor to make recommendations on future housing generally and by reason of its recommendation, the Housing Authority, really the Urban Council under another cost, came into existence. I was also on the Government appointed Working Party on Housing in 1963. Indeed I, on behalf of the Reform Club, have always been interested in public housing for the citizens of Hong Kong, regarding it as one of Hong Kong's biggest problems. I personally was at all times on, and from time to time, Chairman of the various Resettlement Select Committees of the Urban Council and on the Executive Committee of the Housing Authority, as was also other big Reform Club names such as Alison BELL, Raymond LEE, Philip Au and little later Henry Hu. Therefore I consider that the extent of Public Housing today is the Reform Club's biggest achievements over past 20 years. I give this introduction, not for the purpose of blowing my own trumpet, or even that of the Reform Club but to explain how simply thrilled I was at the Governor's announcement of a crash plan for building, not only domestic accommodation which, was despite opposition from the Reform Club, always the Governments plan in the past, but entirely self-contained estates with adequate educational and medical facilities, playing fields and entertainment generally. This Governor, is what Hong Kong has been looking for, for a long time and we must co-operate with him to make this crash

Page 157 of 206

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