TNAG-0570-FCO40-703-Planning-paper-on-Hong-Kong-1976 — Page 215

SECRET

20.

that it is reaching its full strength a maximum effort

will be made over the next two years. The bill in the

present financial year will be HK$ 37.7 m

AMENITIES

25.

With such great pressure on the Government

to expand the basic infrastructure of a civilised

society described above, it is all too easy to allow

items for the softer side of life to be squeezed out.

But they have a vital part to play in any society, and

one of major significance in a population as comparatively

young and as densely packed as that of Hong Kong. They

make all the difference between sullen acceptance of,

and cheerful participation in, a community. The

following items are examples of what is being done:

a) a vigorous campaign to improve tidiness and

cleansing has transformed Hong Kong from an

b)

exceptionally dirty city into a comparatively

clean one .

The area of playing grounds, parks and

sitting-out facilities in the urban areas

has increased since 1971 from 732 acres to

922. And 153,000 trees have been planted

in that period.