TNAG-0571-FCO40-704-Planning-paper-on-Hong-Kong-1976 — Page 170

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(Note:

The platform in the years 1976/77 and 1977/78

reflects rephasing during the recession. This has been picked up by means of additional building which will produce a higher rate of completions from 1978/79 than in the original plan.)

7. The housing plan provides for redistribution of some of the population from heavily over-crowded areas to new towns in the

New Territories. Work is proceeding on these, on their related amenities, and on the provision of fast communications between them and the old urban areas.

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8. The administration is augmenting this programme in two ways. First, it is steadily raising the rents in its estates in the old estates these were as low as 6% of commercial rents. The first

rise imposed was in December 1974 and amounted to 32%. A similar increase in commercial (e.g. shop rents) was imposed in March this year. A further increase in domestic rents of about 25% will be imposed this December. This process will be continued. Tenancies

in new estates are starting at between 35% and 40% of commercial rates. Rent assistance from the Social Welfare Department is available to those unable to pay higher rents. Secondly, the Administration is working out a home purchase scheme for lower income

groups both to encourage the private sector to build for this category of potential home-owner, and to persuade tenants

of Government estates, whose means permit them, to leave and make

way for more needy persons. The Government itself is starting to build estates for sale in this way.

EDUCATION

9.

There is already free and compulsory primary education for all up to the age of 12 and in practice about 80% of primary school leavers go into secondary schools though by September 1975 subsidised places were available for only just over 50% of primary school leavers. In 1974 the target was set for subsidised (and where necessary free) secondary education in Forms 1-3 for 100% of the

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