Page 20 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

will become more prevalent in local congrega­ Last year the Council responded to the following result of many low income people not being able
tions. social issues: to move into the less expensive public housing
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Social Security estates. The Legislative Council’decision last
INTERPRETATION The Council and the Roman Catholic Church July to ease up on rent control only added to the
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In order to better interpret the Council’ have together been advocating a comprehensive already unbearable burden of the poor. We issued
ecumenical concerns to local congregations, social security scheme which aims at providing a strong statement against it. It is clear that this
pastors and lay leaders, beginning in June, a adequate protection for low-income citizens decision was not welcomed by the majority of
monthly Hong Kong Christian Council News­ (including the aged, unemployed, ill, handi­ people but only by a minority of property
letter in Chinese came into being. The circulation capped, and in cases of death). Only in this way dealers.
for each issue has been 4,500. can a person's quality of life improve, which in Education
turn will result in the prosperity and stability of The Council is concerned about the tremendous
society as a whole. influence of education on the younger generation
Justice Monitoring Public Utilities and wishes to see reform in the present educa­
tional system in Hong Kong, which does not
We believe that public utilities should be held
attach much importance to the quality of educa­
To participate in the building of a more accountable to the public. This is to protect the tion. The Council's Commission on Public Policy
interests of the low-income citizens. Public
has been actively involved in the Committee on
utilities must not increase service charges
humane and just society has been the
mission of the church in all ages. We see in­ irresponsibly. This means that in applying for an Comprehensive Review of Education in Hong
Kong. Some of its projects in the past months
justices existing under the present system in increase, the utility company must disclose all have been to try to bring about the abolition of
Hong Kong, allowing the rich to get richer, and relevant financial information, clearly stating the the Junior Secondary Education Assessment
the poor, poorer; therefore, we dare not remain grounds for an increase. The Council attempted examination, to promote “mother tongue”

to suggest that the Government establish a stand­
silent. While the rich are enjoying excessive pri­ education, and to boost moral education.
vileges, the poor are deprived of their basic ing body to monitor the public utilities, but re­
necessities for a decent life. Perpetuation of this grettably, the suggestion was not received District Administration
favorably by the Government.
situation can easily lead to social upheaval. The Last October, The Commission on Public Policy
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teenagers’iot incidents last Christmas and New Vertucci Case sponsored a large seminar on “The Local Church

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Year expressed the younger generation’anger An American lawyer Miss Christine Vertucci was and District Administration”Prior to this they

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loud and clear. denied an extension of her visa to stay in Hong had conducted a survey of Christian opinion on
Kong by the Government after working in Hong the District Administration Scheme. According
The Council has various ministries in this area of to the respondants, the authority of the District
concern, including negotiation with top govern­ Kong for four years. The Council wrote to the Boards is seen to be very limited, and the ratio of
ment officials and joint efforts with other Government requesting an explanation for its elected councillors should increase from the
organizations. In the areas of contacting people decision. We believe that Hong Kong has de­ present one-third to half. Moreover, the result of
at grass-roots level, we engaged in information veloped into a city of international status, hence the survey suggests that in order to increase
collection, research, and organizing seminars and its government should be more open and liberal. citizen participation in the decision-making pro­
forums. Most of these were carried out through Rent Control cess of the Central Government, each District
the Council’Commission on Public Policy and In Hong Kong, a relatively prosperous city in Board should be allowed to elect one of its
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the Christian Industrial Committee. Asia, many still live in abject poverty. This is the elected members to the Legislative Council.
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