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HISTORY
The immigrants formed a huge reservoir of labour-industrious, trainable for the necessary skills, and all looking for jobs.
From the start, the industrial revolution was based on cotton textiles, gradually adding woollens and, in the late 1960s, man-made fibres and made-up garments. In 1959, some 53 per cent of Hong Kong's total domestic exports were textiles and clothing. In 1975 the figure was 54 per cent, showing the continued dominance of textiles in Hong Kong's economy.
Domestic exports were valued at $2,282.13 million in 1959-the first year they were separated from re-exports. In 1975, despite the world trade recession, the value of domestic exports was 10 times the 1959 figure. Re-exports declined in relative importance but remained significant, comprising 30 per cent of total exports in 1959 and 23 per cent in 1975.
With economic expansion, the government has been able to increase its social services to match Hong Kong's all-round growth. When Hong Kong was liberated from the Japanese in 1945, enrolment in schools was only 4,000. By 1948 the total enrolment in all types of schools and educational centres was 120,000. In 1975 it was 1,300,243. A government or subsidised primary school place is now available for every child of primary school age. Free primary education was introduced in September 1971 for the vernacular schools and at the same time a form of compulsory education for all primary schools came into force. The 1974 White Paper on Secondary Education stated that, by 1979, all children will have at least nine years' subsidised education, with aid for almost half the children who want to further their secondary education.
The University of Hong Kong re-opened in 1946 with a total of 109 students and by 1975 had expanded to 3,528 undergraduates, 227 higher degree students and 236 students reading for post-graduate diplomas or certificates. The Chinese Univer- sity of Hong Kong opened in October 1963 comprising three student colleges, and enrolment had risen to 3,944 by September 1975. A polytechnic, run by its own board with its first principal appointed in 1971, assumed responsibility for the work of the Hong Kong Technical College in August 1972. Its enrolment by 1975 was 4,170 full-time, 2,463 part-time day release, and 14,299 part-time evening students.
The Social Welfare Office, set up in 1946, became an independent government department in 1958 and has since been expanding its functions. Social security is now a government responsibility which is currently met under three schemes. More than 100 voluntary agencies-the majority of which are members of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, founded in 1946—offer a variety of services supplementing the work of the government.
The rapid industrialisation of Hong Kong has demanded special attention to labour legislation. Hours of work for women and young people in industry were regulated in 1959 and by the end of 1971 were reduced to eight a day and 48 a week. The employment of children under 14 in industry is forbidden. The Employment Ordinance provides for the protection of wages of manual workers and non-manual workers earning not more than $2,000 a month. It also regulates conditions of