>
UNCLASSIFIED
2.
Education
3. The Hong Kong Government have provided six years of compulsory,
free primary education for all since 1971. In 1978 a free secondary
place was provided for every child completing primary education, and
by 1980 three years of secondary education will also be compulsory
and free. The Government recently published a white Paper outlining
plans for the expansion and improvement of senior secondary and
tertiary education. By 1980, places will be provided for over 80%
of children to continue their education beyond the age of 15, and
for 33% to proceed to tertiary education in the universities, the
Hong Kong folytechnic and other higher educational institutions.
Although fees are charged, they represent only 20% of the total cost
in secondary schools. Gracts and subsidies are also available in
deserving cases.
4. The Government have also announced their intention of appointing
a special review body to conduct a comprehensive review of the whole
education system in Hong Kong, including its methods and objectives.
Medical and health services
5. There are at present about 20,000 hospital beds in Hong Kong.
This total will be increased to 31,800 by the mid-1980s under pro-
jects already in progress. There are also plans for a 27% increase
in the number of out-patient clinics and for the expansion of
maternity and child health services, family planning and health
education programmes. The preventive medicine programme has already
succeeded in bringing most communicable diseases under control.
Tuberculosis, for example, once the major cause of death in Hong
Kong, is now very rare among under-158. The infant mortality rate,
at 13.9 per thousand live births, is lower than in many developed
countries.
16.