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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

5. Develop computer education in primary schools

The use of of computers is more and more popular whilst computer technology is breaking new grounds. Many developed countries in Europe and America already introduced computer education in primary schools more than a decade ago. Regrettably, in Hong Kong, no computer education has been introduced in primary schools so far and the majority of our primary school students are computer illiterates. Although the two major libraries of the Urban Council organize Computer Literacy Courses from time to time, it does not help much to the development of computer education in primary school. Since we are already behind other countries in computer education for some ten years, I hope that the government will expediate the introduction of a full scale com- puter education in primary schools.

Mr. Chairman, as the Chairman of the Libraries Select Committee, I would like to say a few words about the libraries.

Initially, the City Hall High Block was to be developed into a Central Library for Hong Kong Island. However development is stalled because the government has other development plans for the City Hall. It is hoped that the government will make known its development plans as early as possible so that the site and schedule for the establishment of the Central Library for Hong Kong Island can be finalized.

With regard to the automation plan for our libraries, proposals have been received from three computer companies. A consultancy firm has also been en- gaged to assess these proposals and a report will be presented to this Council for discussion, hopefully in early 1989. This Council will then decide whether the public libraries are to be computerized. Automated libraries will not only provide the public with service of higher quality but are symbolic of cultural and technological advancement of a modern city. Unless there are very special reasons against this plan, we should not give it up.

The population of some districts in Hong Kong is expected to increase en- ormously over the next few years. As far as library services are concerned, we should get prepared in advance by liaising with other government departments as early as possible in order to identify and make available suitable premises for new libraries.

Our students' study rooms with their complete facilities are very popular. The demand is so great that the study rooms are always full. Although the provision of study room service is the job of the Education Department, we are most willing to assist them to provide even better service. Before this year's examin- ation period begins, we are going to introduce new measures to extend this service to more people who need it.

For mobile libraries, we have plans to acquire an additional one and it is expected that it will start service in 1991.

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We also hope that by 1992-93, our target of setting up district libraries can be completed and the standard in the provision of library materials can be in- creased from 0.7 book per person to 1 book per person. But before that, we should make an overall review of our library service as early as possible in order to lay down further plans to upgrade our service.

I have been working in the Urban Council since 1983 and have found it an enjoyable experience. But it is regrettable to see that the powers of the Urban Council have gradually been cut over the past few years, and that some government departments do not seem to be co-operative with this Council. In addition, the government has recently set up a Council for Recreation and Sport which poses as a rival to us. I would have thought that instead of setting up new institutions to duplicate efforts, they may as well do away with the Urban Council so as not to waste manpower and resources unnecessarily and put

the taxpayers' money down the drain.

Mr. Chairman, with these words, I support the motion.

MR. LAM CHAK-PIU (in Cantonese):-- Mr. Chairman, no matter which type of person the government regards me as, I am still a grass-root representative of the silent majority. Among the many events in 1988 which warrant my concern, the most important ones are as follows:

Ever since the signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, what the local public is most concerned about is that under the future arrangement of one country two systems, Hong Kong will become a highly autonomous Special Administrative Region. The political system to be adopted before and after 1997 is a matter of greatest interest.

Within the short period of 9 years, I have discovered from the opinions on the development of the political system that people always take the definition of humanism for democracy. The commonly known 'Mainstream Proposal' even seems to be a measure aimed at suppressing the demand for democracy. I view of these, I would like to take this opportunity to talk about the difference be- tween humanism and democracy. I think everyone knows clearly that human- ism can be a beautiful word used by rulers whose subjects are governed undemocratically. These rulers' officials often talk about regarding the people as the most vital elements of the country; loving the people as their newborn babies; and that the highest principle is to get close to the people, etc. Actually, humanism has a long history in China. Lao Zi said, 'Food is the basic requirement of people, and people are the foundation of a nation. Therefore, an emperor should act in conformity with the rules of nature and regard his subjects as the most vital elements of his country.' So humanism means the fundamentals of people's life.

Since the reign of Tang Tai Zhong and up to the Qing Dynasty, Chinese em- perors always talked about loving his own people. When exercising totalitarian power, these rulers, however, always used humanism as a means to cheat the