IN CONFIDENCE
SECTION 3: SOCTAL SERVICES
EDUCATION
3.1 Approximately 20% of total Government expenditure is on education (an estimated HK $1,917.5 million in 1978-79). The Government provides nine years compulsory free education for all. By 1980, places will be provided for over 80% of children to continue their education beyond the age of 15, and for 33% to proceed to tertiary education in the universities, the Hong Kong Polytechnic and other higher educational institutions.
3.2 There are two universities with a total first year under- graduate enrolment for the 1978-79 session of over 2,600 students. The Hong Kong Polytechnic provides higher education in mainly technical and commercial subjects. A total of about 6,500 full-time and over 19,000 part-time students registered for the 1978-79 session.
3.3 By the end of December 1978 a total of 11,000 Hong Kong students were studying in Britain.
MEDICAL SERVICES
3.4 There are 4.4 hospital beds available per 1,000 population. Out-patient services are provided at 52 government clinics and 405 registered private clinics. Charges are minimal: HK $2 per visit to an out-patient clinic and HK 85 per day in hospitals. These charges are waived for children and other special categories, and in cases of hardship.
3.5 There is a comprehensive public health programme to control tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, malaria and other controllable diseases. Infant mortality, at 11.8 per 1,000 live births in 1978, is lower than in many developed countries. The major causes of death are cancer, heart disease and pneumonia. The birth rate, at 1.75% in 1978, means that the natural rate of increase of the population is about 1% (however, in 1978 the natural rate of increase was more than doubled by immigration).
3.6 Drug abuse is a serious and long-standing problem in Hong Kong. There are believed to be some 50,000 addicts in Hong Kong, about 90% on heroin, the remainder mostly on opium. The Action Committee Against Narcotics coordinates the work of the various Government and voluntary arencies, which cater for about 14,000 people, at a
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