A PERSONAL VIEW
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Unless Hong Kong manages to curb its birth rate, the population, mounting by two per cent a year, will be around 5.3 million in 10 years time, and the ratio of the 'economically active population' (15-60 years age group) will have risen from 64 to 69 per cent.
Ironically, if sadly, the 1974 recession increased Hong Kong's attraction for out- side investment. More than 50,000 unemployed young technical workers, alas, awaited restored full-time work in mid-1975. They are swollen by approximately 60,000 young workers each year.
Said James McGregor, Director of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Com- merce: 'We have highly productive labour available. Our wage rates are competitive; we have several million square feet of new factory floor space and more is being built; we have joint-venture partners who are ready and willing to join with foreign manu- facturers in new ventures; and we have bank finance to support sound projects. We have also recently modified our industrial land policies to provide for direct sales of industrial land for major projects, and we are working on plans for new industrial estates which will be particularly suitable for engineering and support industries',
Despite the recession, the government is now spending about eight times more on social welfare than it did eight years ago—some $300 million, compared with $35 million in 1967-8.
There is controversy over education, but Hong Kong still expects to provide by 1979 nine years' subsidised education for every Hong Kong child, comprising six years in a primary school, followed by three years of secondary education for children of 12-14 years. In 1956, there were 195,000 children in primary and 54,000 in secondary schools; now there are approximately 700,000 and 390,000 respectively.
The Royal Visit
For the first time in history, a reigning British monarch visited Hong Kong. Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Philip arrived for a warm and spontaneous Chinese welcome, on a four-day visit in May. They had hectic and crowded but informal tours of busy resettlement areas as well as the beauty spots of Hong Kong.
Even sceptical reporters accompanying the party agreed that Her Majesty won the hearts of Hong Kong people. All public places and streets were jammed with cheering sightseers and the language problem did not prevent the Queen from halting and happily exchanging remarks with many of the curious and excited Chinese packed against the railings along the streets wherever she walked.
Local soothsayers pointed out that she arrived on the birthday of Tin Hau, the Goddess of Heaven and protectress of seafarers, and was therefore assured of a hearty and happy welcome. Also, there was unaccountable heavy rain on the two days pre- ceding the Royal arrival, which, as all soothsayers know, signifies a blessing from the gods on the eve of any dignitary's arrival.
The Royal couple thoroughly enjoyed processions of Chinese lions, dragons and street acrobatic displays, and a unique combination of the drums of the Grenadier