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16. In considering criticisms of labour and social conditions in Hong Kong it must be remembered that the Hong Kong Government continues to face grave problems in the social field resulting primarily from a seven-fold increase in population since 1945. The present Governor, who was appointed in late 1971 and whose term of office was recently extended to November 1978, has done much to bring social and labour policies more into line with currently acceptable standards. (He announced a new five year. programme of measures in such fields as labour, education, housing, social welfare and medical and health services, in his speech on 6 October 1976 at the opening of the 1976/77 session of LegCo.) 17. An increasing proportion of public expenditure is being spent to ameliorate the conditions of the lower income groups in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Government has already provided free primary education for all children up to the age of 12 and is aiming, by September 1980/81, to provide subsidised secondary education for all children. up to the age of 15 and for 40% of those up to the age of 16. housing 1.7 million, or 43% of the population, have already been accommodated in government-subsidised housing and there are plans to provide public housing for a total of 3.3 million, or 54% of the then estimated population by 1983/84. There are plans to increase
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the ratio of hospital beds from the present 4.3 per 1,000 population to 4.8 by 1983/84. Social welfare expenditure continues to increase. A very substantial programme of labour legislation has been undertaken in recent years and there are extensive plans for the future. It is recognised that, in the absence of effective
independent trade unions, the Government has special responsibilities in the labour field.
'Interference' in Hong Kong by HMG
18. There has been criticism in Hong Kong that the Hong Kong Government's labour and social policies have been imposed by an 'interfering' British Government, that they are incompatible with Hong Kong's best interests and that their main aim is not so much to improve Hong Kong's social conditions as to reduce her competitiveness vis-à-vis the UK. In response to those misgivings, the Governor of Hong Kong and British Ministers have consistently pointed out that, while there is a continuing dialogue between HMG and the Hong Kong Government about how the two governments should best discharge their responsibilities for the welfare of the
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