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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
many
a glimpse of this from the meeting of the BLDC Panel on Political System that has just concluded. Judging from the outcome of the meeting, the restrictions to be imposed are contrary to Section 67 in the Draft Basic Law which states that the ultimate aim shall be the selection of all the members of the Legislative Council through general election. These restrictions actually contradict the principle of democracy. Moreover, the Panel has also proposed that the ten years immediately after 1997 be defined as the second transition period. With this transition period, changes in the political system should be minimized as far as possible or even be withheld. This is virtually an extension of the colonial and totalitarian political system here in Hong Kong for another ten years. This hindrance to the democratic movement in Hong Kong will last for ten years. The delay caused to and loss suffered by the next generation and us in these ten years is so great that no member of the BLDC and representative of the NPC in Hong Kong can shoulder the full responsibility and retrieve.
(III) To solve current pressing social problems: At present, the pressing social problems in Hong Kong are as follows: (1) the aging population—0.62 million of the population in Hong Kong are over 60. This figure will rise to 0.73 million this year. The Census and Statistics Department estimated that the population of those over 60 would reach 0.9 million in 2000, representing over 14% of the total population. On the other hand, the average number of persons in a nuclear family in Hong Kong has already dropped from 5 persons to 3.7 persons. In other words, the number of persons that can take care of the elderly in a household has dropped. Hence, nuclear families can no longer cope with the many problems of the elderly. It is therefore necessary for the Government to set up the central provident fund scheme so that the retired can remain financially independent in old age. Moreover, this will also strengthen the sense of belonging of the Hong Kong people. (2) labour relations—A series of unprecedented labour disputes arose in Hong Kong last year, such as CMB staff's fight for reasonable pensions; midwives' and inoculators' fight for reasonable pay, firemen's demonstration, KMB employees' fight for better benefits, etc. Recently, seven grades in the civil service go on strikes because of their dissatisfaction with the pay and conditions of service. All the above disputes illustrate that employees in Hong Kong cannot get reasonable terms of employment and protection out of the economic growth. They have no choice but to resort to industrial actions in order to achieve their justifiable aims. But the government has failed to take the initiative to mediate properly. Moreover, its lack of foresight also results in the absence of appropriate actions to improve employees' terms of employment and benefits. In the end, not only the public has to suffer from industrial actions, but the economy and municipal services also suffer great losses. Given such an indifferent attitude and the marked difference between the rich and the poor, there exists an unbridgeable gap between the authority and the labour unions. (3) There are actually many more unrevealed pressing social problems yet to be resolved. For example, the
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potential danger of dilapidated buildings is also one of the major problems in the 90's. In addition, advertising signboards installed in the streets without prior approval by departments concerned will also pose a problem to the safety of pedestrians. Furthermore, environmental pollution, need of improvement on our pre-primary education system and lack of openness of government departments are some of the problems in our society to which improvement I hope will be made in the 90's.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I support your motion.
MR. FREDERICK K. K. FUNG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, the topic of my speech is the lower-middle class in Hong Kong need to form political parties in the 90s.
The nature of local political activities has undergone various changes in the 80's. In 1982, the Government introduced selection of District Board members through district general elections. In 1985, selection of Legco members through election by functional constituencies and indirect election were also introduced. Meanwhile, negotiations between the Chinese and British governments on the future of Hong Kong commencing in 1982 have brought forth the concepts of 'one country two systems' and 'Hong Kong ruled by Hong Kong people' as raised by the Chinese government, the signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration by the two governments and also the drafting of the Basic Law. To cope with post-1997 changes, Hong Kong people have formed different political groups to put forward their views to the Basic Law Drafting Committee. Over the past years, emphasis has constantly been put on the future Sino-Hong Kong relations as well as the democratization of the local political system.
Basically no one would oppose the democratization of the political system of Hong Kong. But the question is: which political model should be adopted and what pace be set in the development of the local political system? This question remained under discussion throughout the 80's. However, taking into account the foreseeable situations in Hong Kong, it is unlikely that the proposed general election of the Governor and of the legislators will be realized in the near future. In the development process of these distorted so-called 'democratic' elections, the masses—the lower-middle class in Hong Kong must unite themselves and form political parties to defend their own interests. Otherwise, there will be an imbalance of power among different sectors resulting from the transference of excessive power from the Government to a particular sector, and under these circumstances, the victims are usually the lower-middle class.
Democracy serves two functions in an economically developed society. First of all, it effects an equilibrium of power in the community. Under a democratic system, the ruling authorities are vested with administrative power. Yet at the same time, each and every citizen can put the power of the people of authority within limits, or even recall them through elections and the monitoring system. Secondly, democracy serves to prevent polarization in the distribution of
Page 117 of 166
220
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
many
a glimpse of this from the meeting of the BLDC Panel on Political System that has just concluded. Judging from the outcome of the meeting, the restrictions to be imposed are contrary to Section 67 in the Draft Basic Law which states that the ultimate aim shall be the selection of all the members of the Legislative Council through general election. These restrictions actually contradict the principle of democracy. Moreover, the Panel has also proposed that the ten years immediately after 1997 be defined as the second transition period. With this transition period, changes in the political system should be minimized as far as possible or even be withheld. This is virtually an extension of the colonial and totalitarian political system here in Hong Kong for another ten years. This hindrance to the democratic movement in Hong Kong will last for ten years. The delay caused to and loss suffered by the next generation and us in these ten years is so great that no member of the BLDC and representative of the NPC in Hong Kong can shoulder the full responsibility and retrieve.
(III) To solve current pressing social problems: At present, the pressing social problems in Hong Kong are as follows: (1) the aging population-0.62 million of the population in Hong Kong are over 60. This figure will rise to 0.73 million this year. The Census and Statistics Department estimated that the population of those over 60 would reach 0.9 million in 2000, representing over 14% of the total population. On the other hand, the average number of persons in a nuclear family in Hong Kong has already dropped from 5 persons to 3.7 persons. In other words, the number of persons that can take care of the elderly in a household has dropped. Hence, nuclear families can no longer cope with the many problems of the elderly. It is therefore necessary for the Government to set up the central provident fund scheme so that the retired can remain financially independent in old age. Moreover, this will also strengthen the sense of belonging of the Hong Kong people. (2) labour relations—A series of unprecedented labour disputes arose in Hong Kong last year, such as CMB staff's fight for reasonable pensions; midwives' and inoculators' fight for reasonable pay, firemen's demonstration, KMB employees' fight for better benefits, etc. Recently, seven grades in the civil service go on strikes because of their dissatisfaction with the pay and conditions of service. All the above disputes illustrate that employees in Hong Kong cannot get reasonable terms of employment and protection out of the economic growth. They have no choice but to resort to industrial actions in order to achieve their justifiable aims. But the government has failed to take the initiative to mediate properly. Moreover, its lack of foresight also results in the absence of appropriate actions to improve employees' terms of employment and benefits. In the end, not only the public has to suffer from industrial actions, but the economy and municipal services also suffer great losses. Given such an indifferent attitude and the marked difference between the rich and the poor, there exists an unbridgeable gap between the authority and the labour unions. (3) There are actually many more unrevealed pressing social problems yet to be resolved. For example, the
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 117 of 166
221
potential danger of dilapidated buildings is also one of the major problems in the 90's. In addition, advertising signboards installed in the streets without prior approval by departments concerned will also pose a problem to the safety of pedestrians. Furthermore, environmental pollution, need of improvement on our pre-primary education system and lack of openness of government departments are some of the problems in our society to which improvement I hope will be made in the 90's.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I support your motion.
MR. FREDERICK K. K. FUNG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, the topic of my speech is the lower-middle class in Hong Kong need to form political parties in
the 90s.
The nature of local political activities has undergone various changes in the 80's. In 1982, the Government introduced selection of District Board members through district general elections. In 1985, selection of Legco members through election by functional constituencies and indirect election were also introduced. Meanwhile, negotiations between the Chinese and British governments on the future of Hong Kong commencing in 1982 have brought forth the concepts of 'one country two systems' and 'Hong Kong ruled by Hong Kong people' as raised by the Chinese government, the signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration by the two governments and also the drafting of the Basic Law. To cope with post-1997 changes, Hong Kong people have formed different political groups to put forward their views to the Basic Law Drafting Committee. Over the past years, emphasis has constantly been put on the future Sino-Hong Kong relations as well as the democratization of the local political system.
Basically no one would oppose the democratization of the political system of Hong Kong. But the question is: which political model should be adopted and what pace be set in the development of the local political system? This question remained under discussion throughout the 80's. However, taking into account the foreseeable situations in Hong Kong, it is unlikely that the proposed general election of the Governor and of the legislators will be realized in the near future. In the development process of these distorted so-called 'democratic' elections, the masses--the lower-middle class in Hong Kong must unite themselves and form political parties to defend their own interests. Otherwise, there will be an imbalance of power among different sectors resulting from the transference of excessive power from the Government to a particular sector, and under these circumstances, the victims are usually the lower-middle class.
Democracy serves two functions in an economically developed society. First of all, it effects an equilibrium of power in the community. Under a democratic system, the ruling authorities are vested with administrative power. Yet at the same time, each and every citizen can put the power of the people of authority within limits, or even recall them through elections and the monitoring system. Secondly, democracy serves to prevent polarization in the distribution of
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