MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 1994
5
OVERVIEW OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC TRENDS 1982
* * * * *
-
1992
PUBLISHED A
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT HAS PUBLICATION GIVING AN OVERVIEW OF HONG KONG'S SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS OVER THE PAST DECADE.
THE TOPICS INCLUDE:
*
POPULATION GROWTH AND CHANGES IN DEMOGRAPHIC STRUCTURE
DEVELOPMENTS IN HOUSING, WELFARE
*
EDUCATION, HEALTH AND SOCIAL
*
ECONOMIC GROWTH AS REFLECTED BY GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT
DEVELOPMENTS IN MAJOR SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY
* INFLATION AS REFLECTED BY CONSUMER PRICE INDICES
*
EXTERNAL TRADE
* LABOUR MARKET
-
WITH 76 TABLES AND 38 CHARTS, PLUS CONCISE DESCRIPTIONS, THE "HONG KONG SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC TRENDS 1982
1992" PROVIDES DEFINITIONS OF TERMS, AND EXPLANATIONS OF KEY CONCEPTS AND SOURCES INFORMATION.
SOME FACTS PRESENTED IN THE BOOK ARE:
OF
*
THE ANNUAL GROWTH RATE OF HONG KONG'S POPULATION WAS AROUND 2 PER CENT IN THE EARLY 1980'S, AND AROUND 1, PER CENT IN THE MID-1980'S. THE RATE WAS VERY LOW IN 1990 (0.3 PER CENT) BUT SHOWED SOME UPWARD TREND AFTERWARDS.
IN
THE PROPORTION OF HOUSEHOLDS LIVING IN HOUSING AUTHORITY HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME ESTATES INCREASED FROM 1 PER CENT 1982 TO 8 PER CENT IN 1992.
A GREATER PROPORTION OF THE POPULATION HAD ATTAINED SECONDARY EDUCATION OR ABOVE (61 PER CENT OF THE POPULATION AGED 15 AND OVER IN 1992, COMPARED WITH ONLY 51 PER CENT IN 1982). PERSONS WHO HAD EDUCATION IN DEGREE COURSE ACCOUNTED FOR 6 PER CENT OF THE POPULATION IN 1992, AS AGAINST 3 PER CENT IN 1982.
BACK IN 1982, THERE WAS ONLY ONE DOCTOR FOR EVERY 1,286 PERSONS IN THE POPULATION. BY 1992, THE RATIO OF POPULATION TO ONE DOCTOR IMPROVED TO 866.
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP) AT CONSTANT MARKET PRICES (AFTER ELIMINATING THE EFFECT OF PRICE INCREASES) IN 1992 NEARLY DOUBLED THAT IN 1982.
/*IN THE