XN000022-1997-03-12 — Page 69

46

CONTINUITY AND CHANGE: MEETING THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS

Housing: Improving the Supply

"Over the last five years, in partnership with the Housing Authority, we have increased spending on housing by 34 per cent in real terms." (Para 43)

Improvements in Key Services

"Unlike most advanced economies, Hong Kong has not had to increase the burden on the taxpayer in responding to the public's rising expectations. On the contrary, we have been able to reduce taxation while at the same time making significant improvements. We have been able to afford these because our economic growth has generated the necessary wealth to do so." (Para 48)

Education: Investing in Quality

50)

"In education, our priority must be to maintain and upgrade the quality." (Para

"In 1997-98, our total expenditure on Education will exceed $45 billion (an increase of 7.7 per cent in real terms over 1996-97." (Para 51)

Language Skills

"Language skills are vital to our success as a Special Administrative Region of China, as well as our role as an international centre for business." (Para 55)

A Caring Community

"Our society has remained loyal to its traditional values. Families do all they can to look after their elderly members, those with a disability or the relative who is sick." (Para 59)

"We have increased our expenditure on welfare by 88 per cent in real terms over the past five years. It will increase by a further 9.1 per cent in 1997-98 to $21.2 billion." (Para 60)

The Elderly

61)

"We are constantly improving our continuum of care for elderly people." (Para