People in Hong Kong live longer nowadays. The life expectancy for males born in 1986 was 74.1 years, and for females 79.6 years. (This compares with 70.0 years for males and 76.2 years for females in 1976).
The reduction in mortality from communicable diseases has contributed significantly to the improvement in the general state of health. Rapid decline in tuberculosis mortality has brought about significant changes in the overall mortality pattern. The tuberculosis death rate for 1986 was 6.4 per 100,000 population. (The corresponding rate in 1976 was 12.5 per 100,000).
The educational attainment of the population has improved markedly: some 51% of the population aged 5 and over had secondary or higher education; overall less than one-seventh had no schooling or only kindergarten
education. The gap between males and females in educational attainment has been narrowing over these years.
Some 65% of the population aged 15 and over participated in the labour force. The unemployment rate has remained at a fairly low level for the past three years; the rate for 1986 was about 3%.
Female participation in the labour force had risen to 48% overall, and in the 20-29 age group it was 77%. (The 1976 figures were 44% and 62% respectively).
The monthly earnings of the employed population have risen appreciably over the past three years (median $3,186 for April to June 1987 compared to $2,314 for April to June 1984). Per capita Gross Domestic Product in 1986 was $53,383 (US $6,841).
(The per capita GDP for 1976 was $13, 134 or US$2,678).
Housing has also improved: in March 1986 some 41% of the population were living in public housing, and 52% in permanent living quarters in private housing. (The corresponding figures for 1976 were 41% and 50% respectively).
122. Is there any procedure under which an individual can challenge a local law and secure action in the sense of the Covenant? Paragraph 39).
(SR 161
Nothing further to add to Sir Michael Hogan's Paragraphs 42, 43 and 47.
answer in SR 164
Article 3
123. How many women are there in the professions in the Territories? (SR 162 Paragraph 51).
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