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In the meantime, the record speaks for itself.
Faced with a population explosion (mainly through immigration from China) that would have brought most countries to their knees, the Hong Kong Government has nevertheless managed to achieve for the community it serves the second highest standard of living in Asia, next to Japan. It has rehoused nearly two million people more than 45 per cent of the population - and will provide new homes for a further 770,000 over the next four years. More than a million children are enrolled in primary and secondary schools. Medical and health services are among the best in Asia (and better than many other places in the world), and social welfare programmes ensure an adequate living standard for the poorest families, as well as the aged infirm and disabled. Labour legislation is constantly being strengthened. Moreover, all this has been achieved with- out international aid or loans.
The Hong Kong Government recognises that it has some way to go before it can claim to have solved all the territory's social problems. What it has done so far has been made possible only by Hong Kong's success in overseas trade. Further social progress is dependent on Hong Kong's ability to go on selling its products abroad - and that is something that is not entirely within the Hong Kong Government's power to control.
n.o.o.c.
F.C.O.
STK/LY
Yours faithfully,
(S.T. Kidd) Commissioner
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