XN000022-1974-06-25 — Page 19

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TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 1974

"THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS A FINE RECORD OF GRAPPLING WITH THE MANIFOLD PROBLEMS THAT BESET IT. NOT LEAST THOSE FORCED ON IT BY THE INFLUX OF PEOPLE WHICH HAS QUADRUPLED THE POPULATION IN THE LAST TWENTY-FIVE YEARS, AND OF DOING SO ON

'THE REVENUE RAISED FROM ITS OWN RESOURCES AND WITHOUT EXTERNAL AID. IT IS OFTEN DESCRIBED AS A LAISSEZ-FAIRE GOVERNMENT. NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. IF IT HAD BEEN, HONG KONG COULD NEVER HAVE SURVIVED THE CONDITIONS PRODUCED BY THE INFLUX OF IMMIGRANTS. SOCIALLY GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION HAS BEEN IN FOUR MAIN FIELDS: SUBSIDISED HOUSING, FREE AND SUBSIDISED EDUCATION SUBSIDISED OR FREE MEDICAL SERVICES, AND SOCIAL WELFARE FOR THE UNFORTUNATE OR HANDICAPPED.

"PROGRESS HAS BEEN SUFFICIENT TO ENABLE US NOW TO DRAW UP

PROGRAMMES AIMING TO END THE DEFICIENCIES FORCED ON HONG KONG IN THE PAST. THE OBJECTIVES OF THESE PROGRAMMES ARE: A SELF-CONTAINED HOME FOR ALL IN A REASONABLE ENVIRONMENT, SECONDARY EDUCATION FOR ALL, THE TRIPLING OF TERTIARY EDUCATION, A DECISIVE EXPANSION OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION, A ROLLING FIVE-YEAR PROGRAMME OF INCREASING SOCIAL WELFARE, AND THE STEADY EXPANSION OF MEDICAL

SERVICES.

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"THESE PROGRAMMES, WHICH COVER A DECADE ARE ESSENTIAL IF CONDITIONS

IN HONG KONG ARE EVER TO BE NORMALISED AND BE MADE ACCEPTABLE TO ITS INHABITANTS. AND BE SOMETHING OF WHICH THEY AND THE UNITED KINGDOM WE MAY BE PROUD. THEIR SIZE AND SCOPE ARE INTENSELY EXCITING. THEY ARE ALSO EXTREMELY COSTLY. GIVEN NORMAL PROSPERITY THEY ARE WITHIN OUR MEANS, BUT FROM YEAR TO YEAR WE WILL HAVE TO MAINTAIN FLEXIBILITY AND KEEP A VERY CLOSE EYE ON FINANCIAL REALITIES AND THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO US FROM ALL SOURCES.

"THESE PROGRAMMES ARE A NATURAL EVOLUTION FROM WHAT HAS BEEN

DONE IIT THE PAST. EVOLUTION, RAPID EVOLUTION AND WILLINGNESS TO FACE AND PROMOTE CHANGE ARE AMONGST THE MOST STRIKING FEATURES OF HONG KONG. THIS IS AS EVIDENT IN INDUSTRY AS ELSEWHERE FROM SIMPLE BEGINNINGS IT HAS GREATLY CHANGED, IT HAS BECOME SOPHISTICATED. MORE CAPITAL INTENSIVE AND LESS LABOUR INTENSIVE. THE TENDENCY IS FOR MORE INDUSTRIAL PLANTS, OR AT LEAST MORE PRODUCTION TO BE NECESSARY TO PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT FOR THE SAME NUMBER OF PEOPLE, AND FOR THE PEOPLE WHO MAN THE PLANTS TO BE BETTER PAID AND BETTER EDUCATED. IN OTHER WORDS PRODUCTIVITY IS RISING AND INDUSTRY IS EVOLVING AND DIVERSIFYING.

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"THE NEW .......

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