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and those who have to accompany the aged and the young, are refrained from patronizing our markets.
In the future, I hope the Council will modernize its ways of management. Knowledge and methods of business management should be suitably applied so as to provide 'not only well-equipped but also well-managed UC markets.'
And, I would like to say a few words about our present situation. 1989 is a sorrowful and distressful year. I would never forget what happened on 4 June. Although more than 7 months have passed, the Beijing massacre still remains fresh in my memory. We should pay tribute to those students who struck in the street with the loss of their lives.
What happened last year strengthened my belief that a democratic system is the only foundation and guarantee for social development. In short, the objective of our fight for democracy is to establish a government which belongs to the people. It should be elected by its own people and work for its own people. People should have the power to bring about reforms if the Government is not doing well enough.
The 4 June Beijing massacre came like snowfall in June. It drove away the warmth of those sunny days and shrouded the land with sudden coldness, but it could bury neither the conscience nor the rage of its people. I believe that the blood shed by every Chinese is still warm; what we are waiting for is just the right opportunity.
The great changes that took place in Eastern Europe on last Christmas eve, in particular, the overthrow of the autocratic Rumanian president, Nicolae Ceaucescu, by his own people, doubtlessly further strengthened our confidence in fighting for democracy. It is encouraging that over ten thousand Hong Kong people participated in the rally held on New Year's Day in spite of the great political pressure we are subjected to. It clearly reflects the local people's intrepidity and inextinguishable aspiration. I believe that the 90's will be an era of historical changes as well as democratic development. I am optimistic about the future of both China and Hong Kong. People will never forget the history which, in fact, is written by themselves. I would like to quote a statement of Mr. Liu Xiao-bo, the famous Chinese scholar: "Tyranny is not fearful. The fearful is the state when we yield to, eulogize or remain silent about it."
Finally, I would like to sincerely wish everyone in Hong Kong advancement and good health in the new year. I also hope you will continue to participate in the fight for democracy and make history with our own hands and act for our future.
Mr. Chairman, with these words, I support the motion.
(Mr. Daniel K. T. WONG arrived at 3.11 p.m.)
MR. MOK YING-FAN (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman and Colleagues, the 90's marks an extremely crucial period in the history of Hong Kong. We are all too familiar with the slogan 'Hong Kong Into the 90's'. But what most Hong Kong people cannot forget, still, are the happenings in 1989, the valuable experience we gained and the lessons we learned.
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255
Apart from the feverish democratic movement in China, issues that happened here in Hong Kong also deserve much of our deep thinking. Among such issues, the labour dispute that broke out last year draws much of my attention and it provokes my thoughts on the problems of rapid aging of our population and the provision of proper security to employees after retirement.
Aging Society
A city highly advanced in communications and technology, Hong Kong is internationally well-known as "The Pearl of the Orient". Yet the lustre of this pearl is the result of the hard work of each and every one in Hong Kong, and Hong Kong's present achievement is indeed what its people take pride in.
Nevertheless, a group of old people whose lifetime efforts were devoted to the development of Hong Kong are facing the prospect of an insecure life on their retirement. Is it because they have not saved up enough in their younger days, so that they have to lead an even harder life at their old age? Or is it because our welfare system has not given them enough protection? Why is it that those citizens who have contributed to the progress and prosperity of Hong Kong fail to obtain care from the 'pearl' which they have created?
At present, the proportion of aged people in the population of Hong Kong is increasing day by day. Such a trend is actually similar to those in other advanced societies all over the world. The need to alleviate the pressure of the aging population on our society and the adoption of measures to tackle the aging problem therefore become most pressing.
Welfare for the elderly and retirement benefits need more concern
The rapid increase in the aging population has resulted in a growing demand for welfare services for the elderly in Hong Kong. Recently the petition for lowering the qualifying age for receiving Old Age Allowance has been partly accepted by the Government. Moreover, the Working Group on Housing for the Elderly was set up by the Hong Kong Housing Authority in 1988 to co-ordinate the policies stipulated in the Welfare Service for the Elderly Policy Statement and in the Housing Policy Statement. Among the specific recommendations made by the Working Group are implementation of the Priority Scheme for Unrelated Elderly Person, 'Sheltered Housing Unit' for the elderly, and provision of old people's home, community support service, hostel and institutional service as well as more beds at the nursing homes. On top of these, it is also recommended that an Estate Social Worker Scheme be launched in order to mobilize the elderly volunteer groups in the community to provide outreach service etc. Obviously the above proposed new measures indicate the need to carry out a review on the welfare service for the elderly and also the gross inadequacy of the existing service.
Page 134 of 166
Page 134 of 166
254
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
and those who have to accompany the aged and the young, are refrained from
patronizing our markets.
of
SO
In the future, I hope the Council will modernize its ways
management, Knowledge and methods of business management should be suitably applied as to provide 'not only well-equipped but also well-managed UC markets.'
And, I would like to say a few words about our present situation. 1989 is a sorrowful and distressful year. I would never forget what happened on 4 June Although more than 7 months have passed, the Beijing massacre still remains a fresh in my memory. We should pay tribute to those students who striked in the street with the loss of their lives.
What happened last year strengthen my behalf that democratic system is the only foundation and guarantee for social development. In short, the objective of our fight for democracy is to establish a government which belongs to the people. It should be elected by its own people and work for its own people. People should have the power to bring about reforms if the Government is not doing well enough.
The 4 June Beijing massacre came like snowfall in June. It drove away the warmth of those sunny days and shrouded the land with sudden coldness, but it could bury neither the conscience nor the rage of its people. I believe that the blood shed by every Chinese is still warm, what we are waiting for is just a right opportunity.
The great changes that took place in Eastern Europe on last Christmas eve, in particular, the overthrow of the autocratic Rumanian president, Nicolae Ceaucescu, by his own people, doubtlessly further strengthen our confidence in fighting for democracy. It is encouraging that over ten thousand Hong Kong people participated in the rally held on New Year's Day in spite of the great political pressure we are subjected to. It clearly reflects the local people's intrepidity and inextinguishable aspiration. I believe that the 90's will be an era of historical changes as well as democratic development. I am optimistic about the future of both China and Hong Kong. People will never forget the history which in fact is written by themselves. I would like to quote a statement of Mr. Liu Xiao-bo, the famous Chinese scholar: "Tyranny is no fear. The fearful is the state when we yield to, eulogize or remain silent about it.'
Finally, I would like to sincerely wish everyone in Hong Kong advancement and good health in the new year. I also hope you will continue to participate in the fight for democracy and make history with our own hands and act for our future.
Mr. Chairman, with these words, I support the motion.
(Mr. Daniel K. T. WONG arrived at 3.11 p.m.)
MR. MOK YING-FAN (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman and Colleagues, the 90's marks an extremely crucial period in the history of Hong Kong. We are all too
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
255
familiar with the slogan 'Hong Kong Into the 90's'. But what most Hong Kong people cannot forget, still, are the happenings in 1989, the valuable experience we gained and the lessons we learned.
Apart from the feverish democratic movement in China, issues that happened here in Hong Kong also deserve much of our deep thinking. Among such issues, the labour dispute that broke out last year draws much of my attention and it provokes my thoughts on the problems of rapid aging of our population and the provision of proper security to employees after retirement.
Aging Society
A city highly advanced in communications and technology, Hong Kong is internationally well-known as "The Pearl of the Orient'. Yet the lustre of this pearl is the result of the hard work of each and every one in Hong Kong, and Hong Kong's present achievement is indeed what its people take pride in.
Nevertheless, a group of old people whose lifetime efforts were devoted to the development of Hong Kong are facing the prospect of an insecure life on their retirement. Is it because they have not saved up enough in their younger days, so that they have to lead a even harder life at their old age? Or is it because our welfare system has not given them enough protection? Why is it that those citizens who have contributed to the progress and prosperity of Hong Kong fail to obtain care from the 'pearl' which they have created?
At present, the proportion of aged people in the population of Hong Kong is increasing day by day. Such a trend is actually similar to those in other advanced societies all over the world. The need to alleviate the pressure of the aging population on our society and the adoption of measures to tackle the aging problem therefore become most pressing.
Welfare for the elderly and retirement benefits need more concern
The rapid increase in the aging population has resulted in a growing demand for welfare services for the elderly in Hong Kong. Recently the petition for lowering the qualifying age for receiving Old Age Allowance has been partly accepted by the Government. Moreover, the Working Group on Housing for the Elderly was set up by the Hong Kong Housing Authority in 1988 to co-ordinate the policies stipulated in the Welfare Service for the Elderly Policy Statement and in the Housing Policy Statement. Among the specific recommendations made by the Working Group are implementation of the Priority Scheme for Unrelated Elderly Person, 'Sheltered Housing Unit' for the elderly, and provision of old people's home, community support service, hostel and institutional service as well as more beds at the nursing homes. On top of these, it is also recommended that an Estate Social Worker Scheme be launched in order to mobilize the elderly volunteer groups in the community to provide outreach service etc. Obviously the above proposed new measures indicate the need to carry out a review on the welfare service for the elderly and also the gross inadequacy of the existing service.
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