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crossed the border into Hong Kong, and Chinese immigration has contin-
ued ever since. The population, which was 600,000 in 1945, is now
4.3 million, of whom 98% are of Chinese origin. The influx in the early 1950s swamped the capacity of the Government to provide basic social services such as housing, schools and public welfare.
23. Since the arrival of Sir Murray MacLehose as Governor in 1971,
however, a new impetus has been given to social reform. Over the last two or three years the Hong Kong Government have introduced a
series of ten year plans aimed at improving the standards of housing,
educational, medical and other services. Around two million people
or 47% of the population are living in subsidised housing and there is an ambitious programme to build public housing for another 1.5 million people. The Government's main objective on cducation is to
provide nine years subsidised schooling for every child up to the ago
of 14 years by 1979. Medical services are also being expanded follow-
ing a White Paper in July 1974 and four new hospitals are planned.
Finally, although social welfare and social security are, by British
standards, still limited, a number of social benefits have been
introduced in the past few years.
21.
People in Hong Kong generally appear more concerned with what their government does, rather than how it is composed. Nevertheless,
there are indications that some of the younger generation are begin-
ning to demand more active participation in political life; but the
activists form a small minority, the majority being still mainly concerned with job prospects.
25. There are also signs of restlessness among some young workers who have not shared the older generation's bitter experiences and have become accustomed to rising standards of living. Big city life in
a highly entrepreneurial society, with all the amenities of modern life evident, but not necessarily available to all, has to some extent
affected traditional Chinese discipline and frugality. Shortage of housing adds to their frustrations. Nevertheless, there is a general appreciation that life in China remains more austere than in Hong Kong; and it is rare for anyone, given the option, to choose to live in China.
/Political Organisations