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inevitably causes unnecessary confusion and duplication and may lead to wastage of public funds. The same situation applies, perhaps to a lesser degree, in the field of culture. It is high time, therefore, for the Administration to seriously examine the present structure with a view to streamlining, rationalizing and simplifying the overall management in the field of sports, recreation and culture. It will not be inappropriate for me to take this opportunity to plead that consideration be further given to extend the jurisdiction of this Council to cover the whole territory and to enlarge it to include elected and appointed members from the New Territories. This seems to me to be a logical development which will ensure more balanced provision and programmes throughout the entire territory.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I support the motion.
MR. SHUM CHOI-SANG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I wish to speak today on the following Council business: (1) hawkers; (2) markets; (3) the General Duties Team; and (4) outdoor entertainment activities.
However, before I dwell upon these topics, may I first say a few words on the issue which is currently of the utmost concern to all in Hong Kong. This question has been mentioned by many Councillors earlier, and it is on the question of Hong Kong's future.
Many are worried about the future of Hong Kong, but from the statement issued by Beijing, it seems that the present status of Hong Kong will not be changed at all for at least 15 years. How long after 15 years will the same situation remain, or what changes will be made, will depend on the outcome of the Chinese-British negotiations.
Beijing has repeatedly expressed its wish to maintain Hong Kong's prosperity and stability and it may well be possible that after 15 years, the form of government and administration in Hong Kong will be different to those generally adopted in other cities in China. People in Hong Kong are of course very anxious to know what the real situation will be.
If Beijing genuinely wishes to maintain the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, the best way is to alter as little as possible Hong Kong's present social system, including its judicial administration, economic structure, labour-management relations, and private owning of property etc.
We must understand that there is no way that Hong Kong will carry on as it is without any changes and it is hoped that Beijing will, within its rule, make as little changes as possible in its endeavour to maintain the stability of Hong Kong.
To impart a sense of stability and ensure continued prosperity, confidence must first be inspired in the population.
It would appear difficult to ask Beijing to assess the political situation in 15 years and devise an elaborate solution to the problem of Hong Kong, but this is what many Hong Kong people are anxious to know. It is hoped that, to inspire confidence, Beijing will issue again a detailed statement of principle regarding Hong Kong within a year or half.
Some people in Hong Kong are now eager to leave and emigrate to other countries, but those who are able or have the chance to do so will be quite limited, perhaps not exceeding 1%, or fifty to sixty thousand, each year. In other words, over 99% of the population will remain in Hong Kong. The most important task before us is therefore to maintain the continued prosperity of Hong Kong, to increase the export of our products, and to improve the standard of our living.
To maintain the prosperity of Hong Kong, we should seek ways to ensure stability of the society and achieve full employment. So far, we are fortunate that unemployment is not yet a serious problem in Hong Kong; nevertheless, government should make every effort to assist the commercial and industrial sectors to stave off continued recession. Both labour and management should also race up to the realities and work together to overcome the present difficulties. In recent years, Hong Kong has followed the lead of England and introduced a considerable number of labour ordinances. I suggest it is time that we should take a cautious stand in order not to push our industries to stagnation. The entrepreneurs too should be sympathetic to the difficulties of the labour force and carry on, as far as possible, their industrial and commercial development projects in order to check the number of unemployed.
Assuming that the problem of unemployment in Hong Kong will not further deteriorate, if government will pay more attention to housing and medical services during the present circumstances of economic recession, it will have a great, positive effect on the stability of the territory.
If newly married couples can be allocated low-cost housing flats, it will be of much help to their future plans and therefore form a great stabilizing force. I hope government as well as Councillors who are also members of the Housing Authority, will consider to extend low-cost housing to some of these newly married couples.
In the present shortage of doctors, the costs of medical services are really beyond the means of ordinary residents. If any white-collar, or blue-collar, or one of his family falls ill, he will be thrown off balance financially and the problem no doubt much worries him. During our economic recession, it is hoped government can set up more clinics in various districts to provide the residents with inexpensive medical treatment. It will contribute much to improving the standard of living in Hong Kong.
I shall now turn to the Council business.
Hawkers
The Council's policy in regard to hawkers is to gradually reduce their numbers, moving as many as possible to markets or hawker bazaars to enable them to
Page 98 of 142
153
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 98 of 14
Page 98 of 142
152
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
inevitably causes unnecessary confusion and duplication and may lead to wastage of public funds. The same situation applies, perhaps to a lesser degree, in the field of culture. It is high time, therefore, for the Administration to seriously examine the present structure with a view to streamlining, rationaliz ing and simplifying the overall management in the field of sports, recreation and culture. It will not be inappropriate for me to take this opportunity to plead that consideration be further given to extend the jurisdiction of this Council to cover the whole territory and to enlarge it to include elected and appointed members from the New Territories. This seems to me to be a logical development which will ensure more balanced provision and programmes throughout the entire territory.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I support the motion.
MR. SHUM CHOI-SANG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I wish to speak today on the following Council business: (1) hawkers; (2) markets; (3) the General Duties Team; and (4) outdoor entertainment activities.
However, before I dwell upon these topics, may I first say a few words on the issue which is currently of the utmost concern to all in Hong Kong. This question has been mentioned by many Councillors earlier, and it is on the question of Hong Kong's future.
Many are worried about the future of Hong Kong, but from the statement issued by Beijing, it seems that the present status of Hong Kong will not be changed at all for at least 15 years. How long after 15 years will the same situation remain, or what changes will be made, will depend on the outcome of the Chinese-British negotiations.
Beijing has repeatedly expressed its wish to maintain Hong Kong's prosperity and stability and it may well be possible that after 15 years, the form of government and administration in Hong Kong will be different to those generally adopted in other cities in China. People in Hong Kong are of course very anxious to know what the real situation will be.
If Beijing genuinely wishes to maintain the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, the best way is to alter as little as possible Hong Kong's present social system, including its judicial administration, economic structure, labour- management relations, and private owning of property etc.
We must understand that there is no way that Hong Kong will carry on as it is without any changes and it is hoped that Beijing will, within its rule, make as little changes as possible in its endeavour to maintain the stability of Hong Kong.
To impart a sense of stability and ensure continued prosperity, confidence must first be inspired in the population.
It would appear difficult to ask Beijing to assess the political situation in 15 years and devise an elaborate solution to the problem of Hong Kong, but this is
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 98 of 142
153
what many Hong Kong people are anxious to know. It is hoped that, to inspire confidence, Beijing will issue again a detailed statement of principle regarding
Hong Kong within a year or half.
Some people in Hong Kong are now eager to leave and emigrate to other countries, but those who are able or have the chance to do so will be quite limited, perhaps not exceeding 1%, or fifty to sixty thousand, each year. In other words, over 99% of the population will remain in Hong Kong. The most important task before us is therefore to maintain the continued prosperity of Hong Kong, to increase the export of our products, and to improve the standard of our living.
To maintain the prosperity of Hong Kong, we should seek ways to ensure stability of the society and achieve full employment. So far, we are fortunate that unemployment is not yet a serious problem in Hong Kong; nevertheless, government should make every effort to assist the commercial and industrial sectors to stave off continued recession. Both labour and management should also race up to the realities and work together to overcome the present difficulties. In recent years, Hong Kong has followed the lead of England and introduced a considerable number of labour ordinances. I suggest it is time that we should take a cautious stand in order not to push our industries to stagnation. The entrepreneurs too should be sympathetic to the difficulties of the labour force and carry on, as far as possible, their industrial and commercial development projects in order to check the number of unemployed.
Assuming that the problem of unemployment in Hong Kong will not further deteriorate, if government will pay more attention to housing and medical services during the present circumstances of economic recession, it will have a great, positive effect on the stability of the territory.
If newly married couples can be allocated low-cost housing flats, it will be of much help to their future plans and therefore form a great stabilizing force. I hope government as well as Councillors who are also members of the Housing Authority, will consider to extend low-cost housing to some of these newly married couples.
In the present shortage of doctors, the costs of medical services are really beyond the means of ordinary residents. If any white-collar, or blue-collar, or one of his family falls ill, he will be thrown off balance financially and the problem no doubt much worries him. During our economic recession, it is hoped government can set up more clinics in various districts to provide the residents with inexpensive medical treatment. It will contribute much to improving the standard of living in Hong Kong.
I shall now turn to the Council business.
Hawkers
The Council's policy in regard to hawkers is to gradually reduce their numbers, moving as many as possible to markets or hawker bazaars to enable them to
Page 98 of 14
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