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community. The Council must therefore formulate an appropriate and effective policy in line with the development of the hawker situation.
We can observe from some simple facts that the street hawkers do play an important role in Hong Kong. They supply to the public 20 per cent of daily commodities and foodstuff and over 50 per cent of vegetables and fresh fruits. As their overhead expenses are low, they are able to sell their goods at a price at least 10 per cent lower than that commonly charged in the shops. It will be seen that the hawkers are in a position to exert some influence on the local food market. At the same time, the hawking trade offers plenty of opportunities for employment, supplements Hong Kong's retail system, maximizes the use of land and time, and caters to the need and convenience of the public. It would not be realistic or constructive to think that there should be no place for hawkers. The hawker problem should not be separated from the community as a whole and tackled in isolation. It should be treated as part of the complex, evolving society and analysed in this light. We must accept that street hawking is a fact of life and street hawkers are indispensable in people's ordinary lives.
Whatever decision is taken in the formulation of a new hawker policy, we should treat street hawking as a necessary element in the retail system. From a long-term view, we should adopt a steady, long-standing, consistent, and responsible hawker policy. The public are rightly concerned with reasonable licensing and resettlement of hawkers, the building of hawker bazaars, improvement on the design of markets, and the strict control of street hawkers, and offer their constructive views on these problems.
On Civic Education
For over 140 years, Hong Kong has been a typical British colony, but with the change of circumstances, the British government will have to withdraw completely from Hong Kong after 12 years (in 1997). When Hong Kong is reverted back to China, it will become a highly autonomous special administrative region. It will take an about turn, going from the West to its 'motherland'—China—which has a history of 5,000 years.
Hong Kong is closely linked with China and the culture of the people of Hong Kong also has its roots in China. The people of Hong Kong, particularly the next generation, therefore must identify themselves at least to some extent with the 'Chinese concept' in order to help advance Hong Kong's future development.
For a long time, the majority of Hong Kong people (the rich are concerned with their own economic interests and social standing while the lower classes, with making a living) are after material wealth, by hook or by crook. The pursuit of economic gain is above everything else and, to attain this goal, they will not hesitate to take advantage of and hurt others. They care little about community development, political reforms, the districts in which they live, nor the government system. They don't even know their rights and obligations, nor are they aware that government needs monitoring by and ideas from the people.
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However, after the signing of the 'Joint Declaration' by the British and Chinese governments, it is apparent that the United Kingdom will be 'fading out', but the Chinese government has no intention of directly interfering in the affairs of Hong Kong immediately following the withdrawal of the British. In the circumstances, the people of Hong Kong will be responsible, step by step, for the administration of the city and maintaining its social progress, prosperity, and stability.
How is the present government frame to be evolved during the 12-year transition period to one as provided in the 'Joint Declaration'. The first step is taken by publication of the White Paper on Further Development of Representative Government in Hong Kong. It is envisaged that when a review of the reforms on the government system is made in 1987, there should be answers to the balance of powers between the Legislative and the Executive Councils, the form of elections, and the adoption or otherwise of the 'Ministerial System'.
For the present, the people of Hong Kong should concern themselves with civic education which may help direct us to the style of government we shall have in future. The promotion of civic education is therefore a very important task. In the White Paper on Representative Government, government has also mentioned that arrangements should be made for the people of Hong Kong to be educated more effectively and comprehensively in civic matters. The introduction of civic education is indeed urgent, as the period of transition to 'Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong' has set in, and the people demand participation in political affairs.
In August 1985, the Education Department published a ‘Guidelines on Civic Education in Schools' in which detailed curricula and contents of the subject are proposed. However, the objectives still leave something to be desired. I agree whole-heartedly that 'civic education is everybody's business', but would like to comment on the points of view and objectives stated in Chapters 3, 4, and 5.
The 'Guidelines' propose that civic education be taught during Social Studies, History, Geography, and Economic and Public Affairs lessons, but there is no mention of such important contents as the nurturing of national concept, China's historical development after 1949, the provisions in the 'Joint Declaration' of the Chinese and the British governments, and the spirit of the basic law, etc.
In Chapter 4, it also proposes to teach civic education through extra-curricular activities and participation, but uphold the idea that pupils should take part in these activities on a voluntary basis. The question is that many pupils, under the pressure of examinations, may choose not to take part in the extra-curricular activities. In this way, the teaching of civic education through extra-curricular activities will largely become ineffective. Moreover, apart from taking part in activities of a recreational or services nature, the pupils should also take
Page 118 of 195
Page 118 of 195
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community. The Council must therefore formulate an appropriate and effective policy in line with the development of the hawker situation.
an
as
We can observe from some simple facts that the street hawkers do play important role in Hong Kong. They supply to the public 20 per cent of daily commodities and foodstaff and over 50 per cent of vegetables and fresh fruits. As their overhead expenses are low, they are able to sell their goods at a price at least 10 per cent lower than that commonly charged in the shops. It will be seen that the hawkers are in a position to exert some influence on the local food market. At the same time, the hawking trade offers plenty of opportunities of employment, supplements Hong Kong's retail system, maximizes the use of land and time, and caters to the need and convenience of the public. It would not be realistic or constructive to think that there should be no place for hawkers'. The hawker problem should not be separated from the community a whole and tackled in isolation. It should be treated as part of the complex, evolving society and analysed in this light. We must accept that street hawking is a fact of life and street hawkers are indispensable in people's ordinary lives.
Whatever decision taken in the formulation of a new hawker policy, we should treat street hawking as a necessary element in the retail system. From a long-term view, we should adopt a steady, long-standing, consistent, and responsible hawker policy. The public are rightly concerned with reasonable licensing and resettlement of hawkers, the building of hawker bazaars, improvement on the design of markets, and the strict control of street hawkers, and offer their constructive views on these problems.
On Civic Education
For over 140 years, Hong Kong has been a typical British colony, but with the change of circumstances, the British government will have to withdraw completely from Hong Kong after 12 years (in 1997). When Hong Kong is reverted back to China, it will become a highly autonomous special adminis- trative region. It will take an about turn, going from the West to its 'motherland'-China-which has a history of 5 000 years.
Hong Kong is closely linked with China and the culture of the people of Hong Kong also has its roots in China. The people of Hong Kong, particularly the next generation, therefore must identify themselves at least to some extent with the 'Chinese concept' in order to help advance Hong Kong's future development.
For a long time, the majority of Hong Kong people (the rich are concerned with their own economic interests and social standing while the lower classes, with making a living) are after material wealth, by hook or by crook. The pursuit of economic gain is above everything else and, to attain this goal, they will not hesitate to take advantage of and hurt others. They care little about community development, political reforms, the districts in which they live, nor the government system. They don't even know their rights and obligations, nor are they aware that government needs monitoring by and ideas from the people.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 118 Page 118 of 195
205
However, after the signing of the 'Joint Declaration' by the British and Chinese governments, it is apparent that the United Kingdom will be 'fading out', but
the Chinese government has no intention of directly interfering in the affairs of Hong Kong immediately following the withdrawal of the British. In the circumstances, the people of Hong Kong will be responsible, step by step, for the administration of the city and maintaining its social progress, prosperity and stability.
How is the present government frame to be evolved during the 12-year transition period to one as provided in the 'Joint Declaration'. The first step is taken by publication of the White Paper on Further Development of Representative Government in Hong Kong. It is envisaged that when a review of the reforms on the government system is made in 1987, there should be answers to the balance of powers between the Legislative and the Executive Councils, the form of elections and the adoption or otherwise of the 'Ministerial
System'.
For the present, the people of Hong Kong should concern themselves with civic education which may help direct us to the style of government we shall have in future. The promotion of civic education is therefore a very important task. In the White Paper on Representative Government, government has also mentioned that arrangements should be made for the people of Hong Kong to be educated more effectively and comprehensively in civic matters. The introduction of civic education is indeed urgent, as the period of transition to Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong' has set in, and the people demand participation in political affairs.
In August 1985, the Education Department published a ‘Guidelines on Civic Education in Schools' in which detailed curricula and contents of the subject are proposed. However, the objectives still leave something to be desired. I agree whole-heartedly that 'civic education is everybody's business', but would like to comment on the points of view and objectives stated in Chapters 3, 4 and 5.
The 'Guidelines' propose that civic education be taught during Social Studies, History, Geography and Economic and Public Affairs lessons, but there is no mention of such important contents as the nurturing of national concept, China's historical development after 1949, the provisions in the Joint Declaration' of the Chinese and the British governments, and the spirit of the basic law etc.
In Chapter 4, it also proposes to teach civic education through extra- curricular activities and participation, but uphold the idea that pupils should take part in these activities on voluntary basis. The question is that many pupils, under the pressure of examinations, may choose not to take part in the extra- curricular activities. In this way, the teaching of civic education through extra- curricular activities will largely become ineffective. Moreover, apart from taking part in activities of recreational or services nature, the pupils should also take
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