Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1
13
Head of Chancery
TOKYO
Telephone 01-
Your reference
Our reference
HKK 1/25
Date
3 December 1974
NEX: REE.
© Sub File
COMPARISON OF STANDARDS OF LIVING IN SOUTH-EAST ASIAN COUNTRIES
1.
We are frequently asked by MPs and others to compare the standard of living in Hong Kong with other countries in the region; the object being usually to defend or attack the record of the Hong Kong Government in labour and social affairs. More often than not this information is required at short notice. We can usually get from the Hong Kong Government details of their own wage levels etc. But comparisons are more difficult.
2.
It would be very helpful if you and other Chanceries to whom this letter is copied could let us have, preferably in short, tabular form, any available national statistics on the following (with relevant exchange-rates, where applicable):
(a) GDP and per capita income.
(b) Money and real wages and wage movements.
(c) Spending on health, education, social welfare and
housing; as totals, as a proportion of GDP and per capita.
(d) Provisions for compulsory/free schooling, including
school ages and number of children in school.
(e) Provision of higher education and numbers.
(f) Infant mortality rates.
(g)
Provision of doctors and hospital beds per 1,000 of population.
(h) Defence and police expenditure.
/А сору
025/2
D
:75+
B.V.6 wks
pe
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