MEMORANDUM presented to Mr. Denis Healey, MBE, MP, from Hongkong
Civic Association General Committee at meeting held on Saturday, 21 September 1963. 4 p.m. at the Mandarin Hotel
Present
: Dr. P. F. Woo (Chairman)
Mr. Li Yiu Bor (Vice Chairman)
Mr. Cheung Wing In (Vice Chairman)
Mr. Hilton Cheong-Leen (Hon. Secretary-General)
Dr. Peter C. Y. Lee (Hon. Deputy Secretary-General)
Mr. Sydney Liu
Mr. C. K. Cheung
Mr. S. A. L. Rahman
Dr. M. F. Huang
Mr. Patrick Cromwell Hall
1. The Civic Association believes that a close association between Hongkong and the United Kingdom Government is highly desirable, and that the visit of Mr. Denis Healey, a member of the Labour Party Shadow Cabinet, has done much to promote that asso- ciation.
2. A strong and binding link with Britain is vital to Hongkong's economic and political future. What has been called "the miracle of Hongkong" has been nothing more than the strong desire of the people of Hongkong to stand on their own feet in personal dignity and human freedom.
3.
In order to strengthen this link, the Civic Association suggests that Mr. Denis Healey explore the feasability of having a Parliamentary Sub-Committee appointed in the House of Commons to watch over the affairs of Hongkong. Also, the Labour Parliamentary Party might consider the setting up of its own Sub-Committee on Hongkong, if it has not yet done so.
4. The Civic Association does not advocate major constitutional reform for Hongkong, but is in favour of the following adjustments to the local constitutional machinery:
(a)
Increasing the number of elected seats in the Urban Council by another two to four seats for the next Urban Council election in 1965.
(b) Putting the Education and Medical Departments under the Urban
(c)
5.
Council.
inclusion
The appointment of several elected Urban Councillors the Legislative Council.
The
The Civic Association believes that an educated community is Hongkong's best safeguard for its economic and political future. Association regards the present educational policy in Hongkong as short-sighted and urges Mr. Healey to take up with the Colonial Office the Association's proposal that the percentage of the annual budget on education be increased from a static 15% to at least 20%. There should be no difficulty in this being done, since every year Hongkong budgets for a hugh deficit and usually ends up with a huge surplus.
6.
It is also suggested that Mr. Denis Healey take steps to encourage the Commonwealth Development Corporation to make funds available for low-cost housing schemes in Hongkong to enable white- collar and middle income groups to purchase their own flats over a 5 to 10 year period.
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