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agree with me that we should reward our staff for their hard work adequately so that they would work cheerfully for the Council with even greater vigour and efficiency.
(c) I propose to give more care to the old people and provide recreation for them. The Council has been actively providing recreational activities for the youths, but it is felt that care to the aged has been inadequate. Jobs are recommended to those under 55 years of age and Disability and Infirmity Allowance is given to those over 75. It is apparent that people in the 55-75 age group are neglected. In fact, medical facilities are so advanced today that many people at the age of 55 are still energetic. That their working ability and experience are overlooked is already a waste of talent. Although their health has not languished, they can hardly find any jobs because of their age. Can they rely on their children? Obviously the Government does not encourage people to support their parents by abolishing the Parents Allowance. How, then, do they manage to survive their declining years? Apart from going for a stroll in the parks, they have hardly anything to occupy themselves with during the day and are living like a "crock". The Council should do something for these people by finding some relatively light job for them so as to enable them to spend their time productively. We may also arrange some cultural and recreational activities for their enjoyment. Or we can organize a "Respect the Old" Festival to bring them some fun in their old age. It is not out of place for me to say that the people of Hong Kong still preserve the good tradition of respecting the old and caring for the young. If we start the "Respect the Old" campaign, we can certainly expect favourable response from all quarters. There is a great difference between the amount of recreational and cultural activities provided for the old and that for the young. It is therefore hoped that more care should be given to the elderly in future.
The above proposals are made after careful evaluation of the situation of the Council, and in the light of the present-day needs of the community. They need your support and I will be glad to have your comments on them. As to the details, they have yet to be considered at length.
With these remarks, Mr. Chairman, I support the motion before the Council.
(Mr. F. K. HU and Dr. P. C. WONG arrived at this point.)
# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. TSIN SAI-NIN (in Cantonese): - Mr. Chairman, as an elected Councillor, I would like to avail myself of the opportunity of this Annual Debate to comment on the work of the Hong Kong Government during the year under review.
(1) From the speech delivered by H.E. the Governor Sir Murray MACLEHOSE at the Opening Session of the Legislative Council, we can see that, from now on, the Government will attach more importance to seeking improvements in the fields of housing, labour, education and social welfare. This is undoubtedly a move in the right direction. However, we must bear in mind that no genuine improvement can be achieved without a sound policy and a practical plan as well as highly efficient organizations and duty-conscientious staff to carry out these policy and plan. Otherwise, we can only expect delay and poor result, if not failure.
(2) On housing and land, the Government still maintains a high land price policy. The amount of Crown land available for sale by public auction in urban area is becoming less and less. As to the development of the New Territories, most of the land is being held up by the Government on the ground that there are traffic and drainage problems. Though there are development schemes drawn up for some areas, they remain intact year after year simply owing to the inefficiency and maladministration on the part of the authorities concerned or because of the impracticability of the schemes themselves. Under such circumstances, the progress of public and private housing schemes is much hindered and well behind schedule. We must bear in mind that though over 2/5 of the population in Hong Kong are living in public housing estates, yet there are still over hundreds of thousands of them living in poor conditions—some are being accommodated in squalor wooden huts and Licensed Areas; some living in old-type housing estates; and some living in fear and terror, desperately waiting for public housing. I wonder why the Government does not make the best use of the land available for the benefit of the public and why it does not promptly take measures to solve this serious housing problem.
(3) In his address at the Opening Session of the Legislative Council this year, the Governor also touched upon proposed measures to improve labour and social welfare, including the increase in the number of paid holidays and the introduction of unemployment allowance for workers as well as offer of higher
Page 96 of 135
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157
Page 96 of 135
157
156
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
agree with me that we should reward our staff for their hard work adequately so that they would work cheerfully for the Council with even greater vigor and efficiency.
(c) I propose to give more care to the old people and provide recreation for them. The Council has been actively providing recreational activities for the youths, but it is felt that care to the aged has been inadequate. Jobs are recommended to those under 55 years of age and Disability and Infirmity Allowance is given to those over 75. It is apparent that people in the 55-75 age group are neglected. In fact, medical facilities are so advanced today that many people at the age of 55 are still energetic. That their working ability and ex- perience are overlooked is already a waste of talent. Al- though their health has not languished, they can hardly find any jobs because of their age. Can they rely on their children? Obviously the Government does not encourage people to support their parents by abolishing the Parents Allowance. How, then, do they manage to survive their declining years? Apart from going for a stroll in the parks, they have hardly anything to occupy themselves with during the day and are living like a "crock". The Council should do something for these people by finding some relatively light job for them so as to enable them to spend their time productively. We may also arrange some cultural and recreational activities for their enjoyment. Or we can organize a "Respect the Old" Festival to bring them some fun in their old age. It is not out of place for me to say that the people of Hong Kong still preserve the good tradition of respecting the old and caring for the young. If we start the "Respect the Old" campaign, we can certainly expect favourable response from all quarters. There is a great difference between the amount of recreational and cultural activities provided for the old and that for the young. It is therefore hoped that more care should be given to the elderly in future.
The above proposals are made after careful evaluation of the situation of the Council, and in the light of the present-day needs of the community. They need your support and I will be glad to have your comments on them. As to the details, they have yet to be considered at length.
With these remarks, Mr. Chairman, I support the motion before the Council.
(Mr. F. K. HU and Dr. P. C. WONG arrived at this point.)
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. TSIN SAI-NIN (in Cantonese): -Mr. Chairman, as an elected Councillor, I would like to avail myself of the opportunity of this Annual Debate to comment on the work of the Hong Kong Government during the year under review.
(1) From the speech delivered by H.E. the Governor Sir Murray MACLEHOSE at the Opening Session of the Legislative Council, we can see that, from now on, the Government will attach more importance to seeking improvements in the fields of housing, labour, education and social welfare. This is un- doubtedly a move in the right direction. However, we must bear in mind that no genuine improvement can be achieved without a sound policy and a practical plan as well as highly efficient organizations and duty-conscientious staff to carry out these policy and plan. Otherwise, we can only expect delay and poor result, if not failure.
(2) On housing and land, the Government still maintains a high land price policy. The amount of Crown land available for sale by public auction in urban area is becoming less and less. As to the development of the New Territories, most of the land is being held up by the Government on the ground that there are traffic and drainage problems. Though there are development schemes drawn up for some areas, they remain intact year after year simply owing to the inefficiency and maladministration on the part of the authorities concerned or because of the impracticability of the schemes themselves. Under such circumstances, the progress of public and private housing schemes is much hindered and well behind schedule. We must bear in mind that though over 2/5 of the population in Hong Kong are living in public housing estates, yet there are still over hundreds of thousands of them living in poor conditions—some are being accommodated in squalor wooden huts and Licensed Areas; some living in old-type housing estates; and some living in fear and terror, desperately waiting for public housing. I wonder why the Government does not make the best use of the land available for the benefit of the public and why it does not promptly take measures to solve this serious housing problem.
(3) In his address at the Opening Session of the Legislative Council this year, the Governor also touched upon proposed measures to improve labour and social welfare, including the increase in the number of paid holidays and the introduction of un- employment allowance for workers as well as offer of higher
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