42.
Another area where there is very large public
expenditure is education. Free schooling for ail children
is now provided up to the age of 16 and many more are now
staying on at school beyond this age. Very high priority
is being given to the expansion of higher education. At
present there are 36,000 full-time equivalent places in the
tertiary institutions, providing degree courses for 6.5% of
young people in the relevant age group and non-degree
courses for a furtner 4%. The aim is steadily to expand
these numbers to over 62,000 full-time equivalent places by
the turn of the century, by which time degree courses will
be available For 148 of young People in the relevant age
group and
for another 6%.
non-degree
courses
A third
university, the Hong Kong University of Science and
Technology, 1S being
students in 1991.
developed and will take its first
43.
In addition, the Hong Kong Vocational Training
Council operates eight technical institutes with 62,000
full-time and part-time places at both craft and technician
levels. It also runs 16 industrial training centres with
20,000 places to train workers in various industries.
44.
social
In the social welfare field, a non contributory
security system provides financial assistance
sufficient to bring the income of needy individuals and