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areas and the Government is therefore planning to spend £18.6m over the next three years on additional accommodation. 12. The Government's resettlement programme is providing a higher standard of accommodation than is gcneral in Asia and is probably the greatest single re-housing operation that has taken place in Asia since the war. There is great pride
locally at what has been achieved.
Education
13. The Government expects to devote over 20% (£34m) of total
In 1952/53 the expenditure during 1970/71 to education. corresponding figures were 7% and 1.5m.
Primary Education
140
By Marca, 1971, the number of places in Government and subsidised primary schools will exceed the estimated number of children secking primary education in such schools.
There
has been some pressure both in Hong Kong itself and also from Members of Parliament of both Houses to have primary
education made free and compulsory.
Fees are low
· in urban
It would be
areas £1.7.6. a year and in rural areas 13s 9d. extremely difficult however in present conditions of crowding
and two-shift schools to enforce a law making attendance
compulsory.
Secondary Education
15. Now that the objectives in primary education are so near
to attainment the Government has been reconsidering targets (already overtaken) for the provision of government and aided places in post-primary institutions. At present, about 20%
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CONFIDENTIAL
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