XN000022-1972-10-18 — Page 26

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Wednesday, October 18, 1972

The educational system provided free primary education and

nobody was deprived of secondary or university education because of

lack of means.

In addition, Sir Murray pointed to the provision of low-rent

government housing on a scale unknown elsewhere in the world for those

with low incomes.

Taken collectively, these measures meant that the people of

Hong Kong were in a fair way towards having provisions enabling them and

their children to live secure in the knowledge that they would be protected

from the worst effects of adversity.

On the question of payment for these services, the Government's

attitude was that these needs should be provided "as cheaply as possible,

as our means allow."

If the choice was between having the infrastructure and of

providing them free, or almost free, the Governor was sure the people of

Hong Kong would want the Government to provide the houses and the schools

first.

This, he told the Council, related to Hong Kong's present state

of development and the population today, which was predominantly young

and active.

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