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Urban Council some years ago should be good enough to serve the purpose. It is said that such activities would provide an outlet for the pent-up energy of our youngsters; indeed, they will never be bored with such activities.
Today, Hong Kong society is a community fully exposed to Western ideas and morals. Young people adore the way of life of the Western World to such an extent that most of them take pride in calling themselves 'grease boys' or 'cockroach girls'. Thanks to their overindulgence in material pleasure, all discos and the like are doing a thriving business without exception. In pursuit of luxury, wealth and pleasure, many youngsters feel greatly depressed for being unable to fulfill their desires. As some of them have the feeling that society is unfair to them, they take their chance to commit robbery with violence.
From the above, it can be seen that many of our young people are standing at the crossroads with their mind being a complete blank. They are discontented with the realities of the day and believe that they have been subjected to unfair treatment in many ways. In fact, it is only their illusion. They need proper guidance for their enlightenment because they are not aware of the changing scenes in the course of social development today.
Coming straight to the point, I would like to point out that ever since China opened its door to foreign countries, Hong Kong has gradually been influenced by the traditional Chinese culture and moral teaching. As Hong Kong is essentially a Chinese community, it is bound to accept. This is a good beginning and should also be regarded as such in the days to come. The local young people should not indulge themselves too much in the Western style of life. They must also vigorously refrain from pursuing material pleasure. Concerning this point, I suggest that these young people should visit China to take a closer look at the Chinese community where people live a frugal and well-disciplined life. They will soon be disillusioned and come to terms with the realities of the day after comparing the style of life in China with that in Hong Kong.
Sir, I support your motion.
(Miss Maria W. C. TAM and the Hon. F. K. HU arrived during Mr. CHAN Chi-kwan's address.)
MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, following the joyful celebration of the Christmas and New Year, we are now taking part in this Debate in high spirits, feeling encouraged by the Members' valuable views on different topics. I am pleased to say that I wholeheartedly support the recommendations made by the Council.
Thanks to the diligence and untiring efforts of the people, Hong Kong's success in establishing itself has not been affected by the impending expiry of the lease of the New Territories in 1997. This is evidenced by the unprecedented favourable Sino-British relationship following Mrs. THATCHER'S visit to China and Sir Murray's trips to Beijing and, recently, to Shen Zhen. What remains to be done by the Hong Kong administration is to make proposals acceptable to both parties so that Hong Kong will be able to stand as a granite rock and there should be no cause for alarm.
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Therefore, the Council should, in the sixteen years to come, play a more vital role; should not hesitate to take the initiative and never be contented to remain a supporting character. As the term 'Urban Services' indicates, we should administer and manage all the affairs concerning the entire public: district development, transport, medical services, education and hygiene, etc. All these areas, the Council should involve itself in. The Council belongs to the public. To provide for it more welfare, more services and to make more contributions, all these are the greatest tasks of the Council. A sound socio-economic basis will be the best guarantee of an optimistic prospect for 1997.
It is feared that the opportune setting up of District Boards will tend to decentralize the power of the Council. The fact is that it will better understand the needs of the residents. As there are more than two Urban Councillors to sit on each District Board, they can have closer contacts with the people of every district and come to better grasp of their grievances. The elected Councillors in their fight for increasing the number of elected members and relaxing the qualification restrictions on voters have won their battle, which marks one step further towards democracy. The Government will build up a sounder administrative structure, with a high-calibred leadership poised to meet new challenges of the future, by recruiting more elite and practising democracy. A new mighty force is now taking shape.
The problem of the immigrants is another subject that I would like to speak on. In earlier days, the immigrants were largely from the Mainland after the 1949 takeover. The total number of refugees were estimated to be over one million two hundred and eighty (according to United Nations organization for refugees). It was these people who, by providing us with their expertise and cheap labour and hence their immense productivity, contributed in a great measure to our prosperity. They have thus reassured us that, if put to effective use, all immigrants can still make great contributions. After the amnesty, the number of green-seal identity card holders, legal and illegal alike, totalled no more than four hundred thousand odd. After what they had been through, they managed to come to Hong Kong as willing members of the community and, hence, under the jurisdiction of the Council. The Government should therefore take up the responsibility to give them counselling and to arrange jobs for them. They should not be looked down upon or vilified. Nor should they take the blame for the social problems relating to public order, traffic, salary, housing and employment. They should not be made scapegoats. As Hong Kong identity card holders, albeit green sealed, they should be accepted as part of our community, rather than scapegoats. After all, the Council should share in the responsibilities for these people, and, in return, they will surely prove to be an asset of our community.
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Urban Council some years ago should be good enough to serve the purpose. It is said that such activities would provide an outlet for the pent-up energy of our youngsters; indeed, they will never be bored with such activities.
Today, Hong Kong society is a community fully exposed to Western ideas and morals. Young people adore the way of life of the Western World to such an extent that most of them take pride in calling themselves 'grease boys' or 'cockroach girls'. Thanks to their overindulgence in material pleasure, all discos and the like are doing a thriving business without exception. In pursuit of luxury, wealth and pleasure, many youngsters feel greatly depressed for being unable to fulfill their desires. As some of them have the feeling that society is unfair to them, they take their chance to commit robbery with violence.
From the above, it can be seen that many of our young people are standing at the crossroads with their mind being a complete blank. They are discontented with the realities of the day and believe that they have been subjected to unfair treatment in many ways. In fact, it is only their illusion. They need proper guidance for their enlightenment because they are not aware of the changing scenes in the course of social development today.
Coming straight to the point, I would like to point out that ever since China opened its door to foreign countries, Hong Kong has gradually been influenced by the traditional Chinese culture and moral teaching. As Hong Kong is essentially a Chinese community, it is bound to accept. This is a good beginning and should also be regarded as such in the days to come. The local young people should not indulge themselves too much in the Western style of life. They must also vigorously refrain from pursuing material pleasure. Concerning this point, I suggest that these young people should visit China to take a closer look at the Chinese community where people live a frugal and well-disciplined life. They will soon be disillusioned and come to terms with the realities of the day after comparing the style of life in China with that in Hong Kong.
Sir, I support your motion.
(Miss Maria W. C. TAM and the Hon. F. K. HU arrived during Mr. CHAN Chi-kwan's address.)
MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, following the joyful celebration of the Christmas and New Year, we are now taking part in this Debate in high spirits, feeling encouraged by the Members' valuable views on different topics. I am pleased to say that I wholeheartedly support the recommendations made by the Council.
Thanks to the diligence and untiring efforts of the people, Hong Kong's success in establishing itself has not been affected by the impending expiry of the lease of the New Territories in 1997. This is evidenced by the unprecedented favourable Sino-British relationship following Mrs. THATCHER'S visit to China and Sir Murray's trips to Beijing and, recently, to Shen Zhen. What remains to
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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137
be done by the Hong Kong administration is to make proposals acceptable to both parties so that Hong Kong will be able to stand as a granite rock and there should be no cause for alarm.
Therefore, the Council should, in the sixteen years to come, play a more vital role; should not hesitate to take the initiative and never be contented to remain a supporting character. As the term 'Urban Services' indicates, we should administer and manage all the affairs concerning the entire public: district development, transport, medical services, education and hygiene, etc. All these areas, the Council should involve itself in. The Council belongs to the public. To provide for it more welfare, more services and to make more contributions, all these are the greatest tasks of the Council. A sound socio-economic basis will be the best guarantee of an optimistic prospect for 1997.
It is feared that the opportune setting up of District Boards will tend to decentralize the power of the Council. The fact is that it will better understand the needs of the residents. As there are more than two Urban Councillors to sit on each District Board, they can have closer contacts with the people of every district and come to better grasp of their grievances. The elected Councillors in their fight for increasing the number of elected members and relaxing the qualification restrictions on voters have won their battle, which marks one step further towards democracy. The Government will build up a sounder administrative structure, with a high-calibred leadership poised to meet new challenges of the future, by recruiting more elite and practising democracy. A new mighty force is now taking shape.
The problem of the immigrants is another subject that I would like to speak on. In earlier days, the immigrants were largely from the Mainland after the 1949 takeover. The total number of refugees were estimated to be over one million two hundred and eighty (according to United Nations organization for refugees). It was these people who, by providing us with their expertize and cheap labour and hence their immense productivity, contributed in a great measure to our prosperity. They have thus reassured us that, if put to effective use, all immigrants can still make great contributions. After the amnesty, the number of green-seal identity card holders, legal and illegal alike, totalled no more than four hundred thousand odd. After what they had been through, they managed to come to Hong Kong as willing members of the community and, hence, under the jurisdiction of the Council. The Government should therefore take up the responsibility to give them counselling and to arrange jobs for them. They should not be looked down upon or vilified. Nor should they take the blame for the social problems relating to public order, traffic, salary, housing and employment. They should not be made scapegoats. As Hong Kong identity card holders, albeit green sealed, they should be accepted as part of our community, rather than scapegoats. After all, the Council should share in the responsibilities for these people, and, in return, they will surely prove to be an asset of our community.
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