Social Indicators
Education
9 years of free education. Attendance until 15 compulsory.
Third university takes students in 1991.
Places in institutions of higher education have doubled every decade since 1950s. Open learning institute set up in 1989.
Number of first year, first-degree places to double by 1995, to 18% of relevant group.
Health
A public medical service; either free or only nominal charge.
Infant mortality only 7.4/1000; one of the lowest in the world.
Life expectancies of 80 for females (UK/USA: 78) and 74 for males (UK/USA:72)
Housing
Increasing home ownership. 1971: 18%, 1981: 25%, 1986: 35%, 1988: 39% (% of households) 17,000 Home Ownership flats to be offered for sale in 89/90.
Nearly half of the people live in subsidised housing.
825,000 new flats to be built during 11 years to 2001. 57% by public sector. Comprehensive redevelopment of older public housing estates underway. 38,000 new private flats build in 1988. 19,000 built in 1st. half of 1989.
Other
Adherence to more ILO conventions than any other territory in the region. 3,500 top notch applicants for every 35 jobs in the administrative service. Applications to HKG coming from HK residents in UK and North America. Only 0.8 m people paid taxes. Maximum rate 15%.
Low crime rate compared with cities of comparable size.
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