268
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign
Following our initial success in 1972, the latest intensive activity in the campaign was the "Clean Our Building" carried out from August to October 1973. On completion of this operation, which was again widely recognized as having achieved a considerable degree of success, the campaign entered into a quiet period, which was consciously planned in order to allow the operational staff of the Urban Services Department a breathing space whilst the major reorganization of the Department was taking place, and also this would let the public have a break from becoming tired of Government campaigns with the attendant mass of publicity.
Consequently, there has been no campaign publicity since November 1973 and until March this year through the mass media such as TV, radio, and cinemas, and the only relevant publicity was from the systematic visits of teams of Justices of Peace to various districts. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to these highly public-spirited ladies/gentlemen for their invaluable contributions to the campaign. On the educational side, however, activities in the schools have continued unabatedly with hundreds of anti-litter squads and conservancy clubs formed up to this date. We fully appreciate the important role played by students as the campaign is basically an educational one, and their support and co-operation are essential for our success.
Nevertheless, during this period, we have not been falling away from the normal day-to-day services provided by the Department in terms of cleansing and efficient handling of littering cases by the Campaign Office, nor in terms of law enforcement through the one hundred anti-litter squads which are now in full force with a corresponding increase in the number of prosecutions being taken out.
I must admit that the state of cleanliness as a whole still leaves much to be desired, and it is generally agreed that there has been some deterioration compared with that obtained at the height of the campaign operation, particularly at places where hawkers congregated. Many of these "black spots" caused by intensive hawker activities do not normally have regular patrols from the anti-litter squad as our policemen cannot normally be supplied, and experience has proved that their presence is necessary. It is indeed very unfortunate that, unlike the "Keep Singapore Clean" Campaign, where the whole police force was deployed in anti-litter law enforcement, our police force, with too many other important tasks to tackle, have been unable to give us any significant assistance. This illustrates once again the utmost importance of public support and co-operation. Furthermore, while we campaign workers will still continue to do our best, it would be unrealistic to expect us to eradicate an anti-social behaviour of many hundred years' history in a short period.
As to our plan for the financial year 1974-75, I have made a full statement at our last month's meeting and will therefore not repeat it here. The only point I am happy to report is that all the planning and organizing work for the scheduled "Districts Clean-up" operation, the "Clean Our Beaches" operation, and the Campaign month is progressing very smoothly and satisfactorily.
Page 170 of 212
269
Chinese as an Official Language
On 30th January 1974, the Official Language Bill (1974) passed its first reading at the Legislative Council, that English and Chinese are both Official Languages and that they are to have equal status.
As an active member of the Chinese Language Campaign, I welcome this decision whole-heartedly. I am sure that people of Hong Kong will be happier if the following issues would eventuate:
All laws to be effected in both Chinese and English and that these two languages have equal status in courts.
Amongst all recommendations made by Sir Kenneth Fung's Chinese Language Committee, all of which are accepted by the Government, the only one that I cannot agree is that, according to their Third Report, Chinese cannot have equal status in courts as English.
It is my belief that law is made for people as a guidance. It follows then that all law must be translated into Chinese and attain the same legal status as English; otherwise, how can our Government expect its people, most of them using Chinese as their daily language, to be law-abiding citizens?
Furthermore, if Chinese cannot have equal status in courts and that "when there is a dispute, the English version will prevail", how can we say that they are having "equal status"?
It is my presumption that the Chinese Language Committee made their suggestions based on the recommendation of its Legal Sub-Committee, which was formed by lawyers only. They seem to have missed the real meaning and significance of the word "equality" and overlooked the fact that how official languages are administered in countries like Canada, Switzerland, etc., and guided by their own professional conveniences and interests.
Page 170
Page 171
268
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign
Following our initial success in 1972, the latest intensive activity in the campaign was the "Clean Our Building" carried out from August to October 1973,. On completion of this operation which was again widely recognized as having achieved a considerable degree of success, the campaign entered into a quiet period which was consciously planned in order to allow the operational staff of the Urban Services Department a breathing space whilst the major reorganization of the Department was taking place, and also this would let the public have a break from becoming tired of Government campaigns with the attendant mass of publicity.
Consequently, there has been no campaign publicity since Novem- ber 1973 and until March this year through the mass media such as TV, radio and cinemas, and the only relevant publicity was from the systemetic visits of teams of Justices of Peace to various districts. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to these highly public-spirited ladies/gentlemen for their invaluable contribu- tions to the campaign. On the educational side, however, activities in the schools have continued unabatedly with hundreds of anti-litter squads and conservancy clubs formed up to this date. We fully appreciate the important role played by students as the campaign is basically an educational one, and their support and co-operation are essential for our success.
Nevertheless, during this period we have not been falling away from the normal day to day services provided by the Department in terms of cleansing and efficient handling of littering cases by the Campaign Office, nor in terms of law enforcement through the one hundred anti-litter squads which are now in full force with correspond- ing increase in the number of prosecutions being taken out.
I must admit that the state of cleanliness as a whole still leaves much to be desired and it is generally agreed that there has been some deterioration comparing with that obtained at the height of the cam- paign operation, particularly at places where hawkers congregated. Many of these "black spots" caused by intensive hawker activities do not normally have regular patrols from the anti-litter squad as our policemen cannot normally be supplied, and experience has proved that their presence is necessary. It is indeed very unfortunate that unlike the "Keep Singapore Clean" Campaign where the whole police force was deployed in anti-litter law enforcement, our police force with too many other important tasks to tackle, have been unable to give us any significant assistance. This illustrates once again the utmost im-
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 170 of 212
269
portance of public support and co-operation. Furthermore, while we campaign workers will still continue to do our best, it would be un- realistic to expect us to eradicate an anti-social behaviour of many hundred years history in a short period.
As to our plan for the financial year 1974-75, I have made a full statement at our last month's meeting and will therefore not repeat it here. The only point I am happy to report is that all the planning and organizing work for the scheduled "Districts Clean-up" operation, the "Clean Our Beaches" operation and the Campaign month is pro- gressing very smoothly and satisfactorily.
Chinese as an Official Language
On 30th January, 1974, the Official Language Bill (1974) passed its first reading at the Legislative Council that English and Chinese are both Official Languages and that they are to have equal status.
As an active member of the Chinese Language Campaign I welcome this decision whole-heartedly. I am sure that people of Hong Kong will be happier if the following issues would eventuate:
All laws to be effected in both Chinese and English and that these two languages have equal status in courts.
Amongst all recommendations made by Sir Kenneth FUNG'S Chinese Language Committee, all of which are accepted by the Govern- ment, the only one that I cannot agree is that, according to their Third Report, Chinese cannot have equal status in courts as English.
It is my belief that law is made for people as a guidance. It follows then that all law must be translated into Chinese and attained the same legal status as English; otherwise, how can our Government expect its people, most of them using Chinese as their daily language, to be law-abiding citizens?
Furthermore, if Chinese cannot have equal status in courts and that "when there is a dispute, the English version will prevail”, how can we say that they are having “equal status"?
It is my presumption that the Chinese Language Committee made their suggestions based on the recommendation of its Legal Sub- Committee which was formed by lawyers only. They seem to have missed the real meaning and significance of the word “equality” and overlooked the fact that how official languages are administered in countries like Canada, Switzerland, etc., and guided by their own pro- fessional conveniences and interests.
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