Social Welfare
10.
The Hong Kong Government introduced in 1971 a five year plan to develop social welfare services. The aim is to provide social security through a public assistance scheme on a means tested basis, non-contributory allowances to be paid to various sections described as "vulnerable groups" and emergency relief.
11.
Consideration is also being given to the reconstitution of a working party to study the implications for Hong Kong of some form of contributory social security scheme.
Education
12.
The Government has introduced a five year education programme to provide secondary education up to the age of 14 for all children in Hong Kong and five years secondary schooling up to the age of 16
for 40% of those children.
Housing
13.
The Hong Kong Government has a ten year housing plan designed to provide additional housing for another 1.8 million people (on top of the nearly 2 million persons, or 44.6% of the population, already provided with subsidised public housing). The standard of new housing is considerably higher than some of the earlier resettlement developments which have been heavily criticised in the past.
Health and Medical Services
14.
The Hong Kong Government plans to expand health and medical services by building four new hospitals. There are also ambitious schemes to provide greater training facilities for medical staff.
Economic Policy
15.
Hong Kong's economic policies have been heavily influenced in the past by:
(a)
lack of indigenous resources in Hong Kong;
(b)
the belief that there is a need to off-set the inherent
political uncertainties, which could discourage investment, by offering particular attractions to overseas investors,
i.e. low tax levels.
/16.
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