CONFIDENTIAL
Such a Housing Programme, launched by Government in October 1972, aims to build on such a scale that there will be permanent, self-contained accommodation, in a reasonable environment, for virtually everyone in Hong Kong. When this target is accomplished (which take 10 - 15 years), it will mean the disappearance of squatter areas and the elimination of overcrowding and sharing in both private and public sectors. The fulfilment of this housing programme will require the provision of homes for an additional 1.5 million people in urban areas and for 300,000 people in the rural areas. At September 1973 prices, the cost of the programme was estimated at U.S.#1,348 million, including U.S.$72.8 million for schools and welfare buildings which will be included in the estate building contracts.
Since 1953, there has been a continuous improvement in the design and planning of public housing estates and their amenities. Recently built estates have been planned as neighbourhood units complete with their own ancillary facilities such as shops, markets stalls, restaurants, schools, clinics, welfare centres, kindergarten, community rooms and play
arcas.
The Government recognizes the right of everyone to be free from hunger. Through a combination of imported food and primary production in Hong Kong, an adequate supply of food is always available for the whole community. The limited land area available for agricultural use has led to continuous research to ensure the most economical and productive utilisation of such land.
2(a)
ARTICLE 12
Maternal and child health services are provided by the Medical and Health Department. There has been increasing emphasis of the value of these services in the maintenance or health of infants and mothers. About 92% of the children born in Hong Kong attend a Government health centre. The Department maintains 37 health centres in the urban and rural areas, of which 22 provides midwifery services.
The effectiveness of these and other services is evidenced by the decline in the stillbirth rate and the infant mortality rate. The infant mortality rate has fallen from 26.4 per 1,000 live births in 1964 to 16.8 in 1973, which is comparable with the standard achieved in the developed countries. The considerable reduction in the infant mortality rate from the preventable diseases, particularly bronchopneumonia, gastroenteritis, tuberculosis and measles, is largely a direct result of utilisation of the preventive health services.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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