problem of providing housing in sufficient quantity should have been solved. The rents charged in the newest estates are not more than half of private sector rents and are usually less. To ensure that this housing fulfils its social purpose this degree of subsidisation will be maintained.
19. Home ownership is also regarded as important. In 1975 the Hong Kong Government announced the intention of building 30,000 flats for sale at an average rate of 5,000 flats a year to provide accommodation when completed for 180,000 persons. The first instalment of 5,000 flats will be ready for sale in 1979/80 and will mark the beginning of a large-scale non-profit making scheme of home ownership within the public sector which will be tailored to meet the needs of the lower income groups.
Education
20. There is already free and compulsory primary education for all up to the age of 12. With the shift in population to new towns and other developing areas it will be necessary for the Government to provide over 12,000 new primary places and the draft estimates have made provision for this. In 1976 almost 84% of primary school leavers entered two years of junior secondary education. In that year the percentage of those aged 15-16 in secondary schools was 56.7%. An immediate priority of the Hong Kong Government is to provide 9 years of education, including 3 years of secondary education, for all and within the means of all. By 1978 extra places will have been found for all primary school leavers by building or conversion to create 48 new schools, by "flotation" and extended day classes and by the purchase of places in private schools. The Government accepts that some of these expedients should not become permanent and the construction of an additional 35 new schools has been proposed for completion within the next two years to improve the quality of junior secondary places.
When
21. The development of Technical Institutes is proceeding. the fifth institute planned for Kowloon Tong is opened in 1979 there will be places for some 6,650 full-time or equivalent part-time students and for about 20,000 evening students in addition.
22. The expansion of the Polytechnic and Universities is also planned. In 1975/76 there were about 7,500 full-time and equivalent part-time students at the Polytechnic and this should grow to just under 10,000 by 1977/78 and to 11,400 by 1980/81. By then the Polytechnic will be able to provide for more than 30,000 day and evening students. In 1973 the combined student population of the Hong Kong University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong was about 6,000. By the end of 1978 it will be 8,800 and by 1981 about 10,300.
/Medical and Health Services
In
5