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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(a) to extend its jurisdiction to cover the New Territories; and (b) to increase the number of elected members so that eventually they will form the majority.
In my opinion, there must be a democratic government system before improvement could be made in the livelihood of the people. While a democratic system is being worked out, government should respect public opinion and adopt the following measures to improve the living conditions of the people:
(a) to promote a full scale social security scheme under the principles of 'sharing equal risks with the workmen' and 'fair distribution of income';
(b) to speed up the construction of public housing. 50,000 housing units should be built each year to cater for the housing need of those of the lower social strata;
(c) to closely monitor the public utilities by establishing a watch-dog body consisting of representatives of the public and professionals which will make amendments to the present out-dated scheme of control so as to curb the trend of fee hikes; and
(d) to build more public facilities, assist in industrial development and encourage investments in commerce and industry in order to strengthen Hong Kong's economic foundation.
To sum up, improved livelihood and a democratic government system are the best guarantees for political stability and economic prosperity of Hong Kong. No matter how the negotiation on the future of Hong Kong goes, and how our future will change, I believe that only when the people of Hong Kong can fully participate in running our city, our benefits could then be effectively safeguarded.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
MR. LEE CHIK-YUET (in Cantonese):- Mr. Chairman, this is the annual occasion when we may speak on subjects outside the Council's terms of reference and I would like to avail myself of the opportunity.
Democracy--a term for a hundred years
Inspired by the popular television program ‘A Word A Day', I wish to offer you here my humble program of 'A Term A Year'.
The term I wish to discuss with you on this occasion is 'democracy'. In fact, it may be more appropriately called 'a term a hundred years' as in the over 100 years' history of Hong Kong, we have still often misinterpreted its 'meaning' and sometimes its 'pronunciation' in Cantonese. 'Democracy' of course simply means democracy, and there is only one pronunciation. Here in Hong Kong, however, it is often mispronounced in Cantonese as ‘wait a moment', especially by the government. For over a century, when democracy is demanded, the government would shake its head, force a smile, and then correct the pronunciation as 'wait a moment'. The term 'democracy' may be found in any dictionary, yet many do not know how, and they presume it does not exist. What a pity! Democracy is just a simple word, but it has taken the government more than a century to start just writing a letter of the word.
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Why is the term 'democracy' so often 'mispronounced' and 'omitted'? It is worth our while examining the matter.
When democracy is demanded, the government would say, 'It is not the H.K. Government that doesn't want to do something, but the government of China does not permit it.' However, it is well-known that the government of China has never indicated any opposition against the democratization of Hong Kong. Some may have the idea that as the people of Hong Kong know little of democracy and are apathetic towards politics, democracy is actually not feasible here. It is only a sort of 'chicken and egg' argument. If the government structure remains closed, denying the people a chance to participate in the formulation of policies, how are they going to learn about and nurture an interest in democracy? The Urban Council election last year as well as the District Board election in 1982 has clearly indicated that if channels for taking part in government are kept open, the people are only too happy and quite able to play their role. The response of the younger generation is especially encouraging. The theory of political apathy does not hold water any more.
Let us remember the term 'democracy'. There is absolutely no reason to ‘wait a moment'.
Reform of the District Boards
After this, I would like to say something about the District Boards, especially the District Board for 1985. I understand that the C. & N.T.A. Department is conducting a comprehensive review. I would like to make 5 proposals:
(a) Official D.B. members should be stripped of their right to vote. Basically, a District Board is a consultative body serving as a 'transit station' through which government collects public opinions whilst C.N.T.A., being the District Board's secretariat, acts as a 'liaison office'. However, in actual operation, it is very common for C.N.T.A.-led official members to produce an unanimity of their votes'. Sometimes C.N.T.A., through advance contacts, even lobbies appointed or elected members for their support of, or opposition to, certain resolutions, as a result of which views are being manipulated. Some may argue that lobbying is a normal phenomenon in the democratic parliamentary system in many countries, but it must be pointed out that the basic role of C.N.T.A. and other government departments in the District Boards is to collect public opinions, not to collect their own products after manipulating public opinions.
248
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(a) to extend its jurisdiction to cover the New Territories; and (b) to increase the number of elected members so that eventually they will
form the majority.
In my opinion, there must be a democratic government system before improvement could be made in the livelihood of the people. While a democratic system is being worked out, government should respect public opinion and adopt the following measures to improve the living conditions of the people:
(a) to promote a full scale social security scheme under the principles of
'sharing equal risks with the workmen' and 'fair distribution of income (b) to speed up the construction of public housing. 50 000 housing units should be built each year to cater for the housing need of those of the lower social strata;
(c) to closely monitor the public utilities by establishing a watch-dog body consisting of representatives of the public and professionals which will make amendments to the present out-dated scheme of control so as to curb the trend of fee hikes; and
(d) to build more public facilities, assist in industrial development and encourage investments in commerce and industry in order to strengthen Hong Kong's economic foundation.
To sum up, improved livelihood and a democratic government system are the best guarantees for political stability and economic prosperity of Hong Kong. No matter how the negotiation on the future of Hong Kong goes, and how our future will change, I believe that only when the people of Hong Kong can fully participate in running our city, our benefits could then be effectively safeguarded.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
MR. LEE CHIK-YUET (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, this is the annual occasion when we may speak on subjects outside the Council's terms of reference and I would like to avail myself of the opportunity.
Democracy--a term for a hundred years
Inspired by the popular television program ‘A Word A Day', I wish to offer you here my humble program of 'A Term A Year'.
The term I wish to discuss with you on this occasion is 'democracy'. In fact, it may be more appropriately called 'a term a hundred years' as in the over 100 years' history of Hong Kong, we have still often misinterpreted its 'meaning' and sometimes its 'pronounciation' in Cantonese. 'Democracy' of course simply means democracy, and there is only one pronounciation. Here in Hong Kong, however, it is often mispronounced in Cantonese as‘wait a moment', especially by the government. For over a century, when democracy is demanded, the government would shake its head, force a smile, and ther
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 141 of 194
249
correct the pronounciation as 'wait a moment'. The term 'democracy' may be found in any dictionary, yet many do not know how and they presume it does not exist. What a pity! Democracy is just a simple word, but it has taken the government more than a century to start just writing a letter of the word.
Why is the term 'democracy' so often 'mispronounced' and 'omitted"? It is worth our while examining the matter.
would not
When democracy is demanded, the government would say, 'It is not the H.K. Government that doesn't want to do something, but the government of China permit it.' However, it is well-known that the government of China has never indicated any opposition against the democratization of Hong Kong. Some may have the idea that as the people of Hong Kong know little of democracy and are apathetic towards politics, democracy is actually not feasible here. It is only a sort of 'chicken and egg' argument. If the government structure remains closed, denying the people of a chance to participate in the formulation of policies, how are they going to learn about and nurture an interest in democracy? The Urban Council election last year as well as the District Board election in 1982 has clearly indicated that if channels for taking part in government are kept open, the people are only too happy and quite able to play their role. The response of the younger generation is especially encouraging. The theory of political apathy does not hold water any more.
Let us remember the term 'democracy'. There is absolutely no reason to ‘wait a moment'.
Reform of the District Boards
After this, I would like to say something about the District Boards, especially the District Board for 1985. I would like to make some concrete suggestions. My understanding that the C. & N.T.A. Department is conducting a comprehensive review. I would like to make 5 proposals:
(a) Official D.B. members should be stripped of their right to vote. Basically, a District Board is a consultative body serving as a 'transit station' through which government collects public opinions whilst C.N.T.A., being the District Board's secretariat, acts as a 'liaison office'. However, in actual operation, it is very common for C.N.T.A.-led official members to produce an unanimity of their votes'. Sometimes C.N.T.A., through advance contacts, even lobbies appointed or elected members for their support of, or opposition to, certain resolutions, as a result of which views are being manipulated. Some may argue that lobbying is a normal phenomenon in the democratic parliamentary system in many countries, but it must be pointed out that the basic role of C.N.T.A. and other government departments in the District Boards is to collect public opinions, not to collect their own products after manipulating public
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