NOTHING TO BE Written IN THIS MARGIN
W(B)L 51-7406
HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL
I The Economic Situation
The population of Hong Kong has
increased from about (600,000 after the War
to some 4 million now. Although the
immigration from China is now controlled
population is increasing by 21 to 3 per cent
a year and is expected to reach 5 million by 1980./The overwhelming majority live
on Hong Kong island or in Kowloon, though
11/12ths of the area of the Colony is
accounted for by the New Territories, the
the
lease for which expires in 1997
1997./ Half the population is under (21) years of age. There
is thus an imperative need to improve the
facilities for technical education and to
increase employment facilities for the large
number of school leavers who will require
to be absorbed in industry. 47 per cent
of the working population are employed in
industry. Although there are no reliable
statistics, it is believed that unemployment
has been kept reasonably low, and there is
now developing a shortage of skilled workers.