administration, economic services such as the airport, commerce and the harbour, defence and law and order. In the context of the 32%, 6.8% spent on social services and community services can hardly be described as niggardly.
"No medical treatment free for all"
Treatment at a government clinic costs $1 a visit, including medicine as well as x-ray examinations, laboratory tests, etc. If the patient requires a specialist's opinion he is referred to a specialist for a consultation, which also costs him 1. If he cannot afford these charges they can be waived.
The charge in a general ward of a government hospital is 2 a day for diet, medicine and any test or treatment required, including surgery and examination by a Specialist.
This daily charge can also be waived if the patient is unable to pay.
"No compulsory education"
Free primary education was introduced in all government Chinese primary schools and the majority of aided primary schools in 1971.
The Director of Education is empowered to order parents to send their children to school where it appears to him that a parent is withholding a child between the age of 6-11 years from attending primary school without any reasonable excuse.
In the field of secondary education it is the Government's declared aim to provide at least 3 years of aided secondary education for all children seeking it.
Limitations in school building capacity and the training of teachers make it necessary to have a phased programme for government-aided secondary education. It is intended to achieve the first half of this goal catering for 50% of the 12-14 age group, as determined from census information, by 1976.
Within the 50% figure, provision will be made for 18-20% of the 12-16 year age group to proceed to aided secondary school courses leading to a certificate of education. Many parents in Hong Kong, it should be remembered, send their children to private primary and secondary schools.
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