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# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
## ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):-Ladies and Gentlemen, the meeting is called to order.
## MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 3 April 1984 were confirmed.
## STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):-
### Urban Council Annual Clean-up
The Urban Council's recent big annual clean-up produced a veritable mountain of refuse-20 000 tonnes of it plus 3 600 tonnes of junk. It meant six days' hard work for departmental staff who had to service and cart away from 156 permanent junk and reception points, plus 87 temporary ones. But it was a job well worth doing, and widely appreciated, I am sure, by the general public.
It has become apparent that the fight against litterbugs entered a significant new phase with the computerization of litter offenders which was begun in September of 1982. The main purpose of the computer system is deterrent- with the aid of these print-outs, our prosecutors can identify repeat offenders and magistrates can then dispense fines accordingly, thereby discouraging habitual litterers.
Generally speaking, penalties for second or third convictions are higher, but perhaps of potentially greater significance is the statistical information we have been able to glean from the computer profiles.
We have found that 85% of all repeat offenders were males but that very few individuals aged under 21-fewer than 4% of the total-appeared in court more than once.
The latter is a very encouraging finding since it shows that bad habits can be broken and that our message has got across to the young.
The computer also revealed that most habitual litterbugs are either hawkers or workers for private refuse collection services, marine yards or in the waste-paper baling trading.
Now, having these facts and figures to go on, we are able to deploy our prosecution forces and concentrate our educational efforts where they will be most effective.
### Confidence in the Future
Now what I have just said is one clear indication that in spite of the major pre-occupation that is in the minds of Hong Kong people-that is the 1997 issue- the Urban Council will carry on without any let-up with its day-to-day responsibilities to improve our living conditions in every way possible, especially in the environmental and hygiene field, culture, recreation and sports.
We all now know where we stand over 1997—not the details of course, but the significant fact that after that year the administration of Hong Kong will no longer be directly under British jurisdiction. And we in Hong Kong must take Sir Geoffrey Howe's announcement in a realistic and pragmatic way-by getting on with our day-to-day affairs with the 'work ethic' continuing to be far stronger than the 'worry ethic'.
Of course we are all vitally concerned that under its post-1997 administration Hong Kong will basically retain its own lifestyle and all of the things such as personal freedom, free enterprise, the rule of law that we take for granted today. Indeed the reassurances from China recently have been continuous and overwhelming; the question is: can we accept them in the same good faith as they have been expressed?
We would all very much hope that China has learnt the lessons of the Cultural Revolution and that between now and 1997, China's development in her modernization programmes and Open Door Policy will progressively dispel our worries and doubts about our future stability and prosperity when China regains sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997.
Can we hope that by the end of this century, the Communist system in China will have been further modified with more Chinese cultural characteristics so that it could be compatible with the higher standard of living and relatively freer lifestyle in Hong Kong?
Is there also hope that by the end of this century, the proposed Hong Kong Special Administrative Region model will be more clearly understood by Taiwan's 20 million people?
The fact that the Sino-British discussions on our future are taking place in an atmosphere of amity, co-operation and goodwill on both sides is something from which we can take heart. There are leaders with vision in China, United Kingdom and Hong Kong who wish to keep the Hong Kong miracle alive. This vision must be transmitted intact to the next generation of leaders.
And particularly we in Hong Kong must be united in our efforts to ensure that the Hong Kong miracle will continue for 50 years after 1997 and more!
If I may return to my speech in this Chamber last month, we must look ahead to the future beyond 1997 and set our sights on that momentous time only 17 years hence to the turn of the new century in the year 2001.
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):-Ladies and Gentlemen, the meeting is called to order.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 3 April 1984 were confirmed.
STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):-
Urban Council Annual Clean-up
The Urban Council's recent big annual clean-up produced a veritable moun- tain of refuse-20 000 tonnes of it plus 3 600 tonnes of junk. It meant six days' hard work for departmental staff who had to service and cart away from 156 permanent junk and reception points, plus 87 temporary ones. But it was a job well worth doing, and widely appreciated, I am sure, by the general public.
It has become apparent that the fight against litterbugs entered a significant new phase with the computerization of litter offenders which was begun in September of 1982. The main purpose of the computer system is deterrent- with the aid of these print-outs, our prosecutors can identify repeat offenders and magistrates can then dispense fines accordingly, thereby discouraging habitual litterers.
Generally speaking, penalties for second or third convictions are higher, but perhaps of potentially greater significance is the statistical information we have been able to glean from the computer profiles.
We have found that 85% of all repeat offenders were males but that very few individuals aged under 21-fewer than 4% of the total-appeared in court more than once.
The latter is a very encouraging finding since it shows that bad habits can be broken and that our message has got across to the young.
The computer also revealed that most habitual litterbugs are either hawkers or workers for private refuse collection services, marine yards or in the waste- paper baling trading.
Now, having these facts and figures to go on, we are able to deploy our prosecution forces and concentrate our educational efforts where they will be most effective.
Confidence in the Future
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Now what I have just said is one clear indication that in spite of the major pre- occupation that is in the minds of Hong Kong people-that is the 1997 issue- the Urban Council will carry on without any let-up with its day-to-day responsibilities to improve our living conditions in every way possible, especially in the environmental and hygiene field, culture, recreation and sports.
We all now know where we stand over 1997—not the details of course, but the significant fact that after that year the administration of Hong Kong will no longer be directly under British jurisdiction. And we in Hong Kong must take Sir Geoffrey HowE's announcement in a realistic and pragmatic way-by getting on with our day-to-day affairs with the 'work ethic' continuing to be far stronger than the 'worry ethic'.
Of course we are all vitally concerned that under its post-1997 administration Hong Kong will basically retain its own lifestyle and all of the things such as personal freedom, free enterprise, the rule of law that we take for granted today. Indeed the reassurances from China recently have been continuous and overwhelming; the question is: can we accept them in the same good faith as they have been expressed?
We would all very much hope that China has learnt the lessons of the Cultural Revolution and that between now and 1997, China's development in her modernization programmes and Open Door Policy will progressively dispel our worries and doubts about our future stability and prosperity when China regains sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997.
Can we hope that by the end of this century, the Communist system in China will have been further modified with more Chinese cultural characteristics so that it could be compatible with the higher standard of living and relatively freer lifestyle in Hong Kong?
Is there also hope that by the end of this century, the proposed Hong Kong Special Administrative Region model will be more clearly understood by Taiwan's 20 million people?
The fact that the Sino-British discussions on our future are taking place in an atmosphere of amity, co-operation and goodwill on both sides is something from which we can take heart. There are leaders with vision in China, United Kingdom and Hong Kong who wish to keep the Hong Kong miracle alive. This vision must be transmitted intact to the next generation of leaders.
And particularly we in Hong Kong must be united in our efforts to ensure that the Hong Kong miracle will continue for 50 years after 1997 and more!
If I may return to my speech in this Chamber last month, we must look ahead to the future beyond 1997 and set our sights on that momentous time only 17 years hence to the turn of the new century in the year 2001.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.