TNAG-1039-FCO40-1289-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 230

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

UNCLAS E RRC

COPY TO NEARD, FCS

HX271009 TAKE 4 OF 4 HK271003--HONG KONG

BEIJING LIROWANG CHINESE 1 APR // LIFE. ((PARAGRAPH CONTINUES))

((TEXT)) HONG KONG RESIDENTS HAVE TWO DIFFICULT PROBLEMS TO SOLVE. ONE IS THE PROBLEM OF HOUSING. HOUSE RENTS IN HONG XONG ARE TERRIBLE, THE RENT FOR A 10 SQUARE-METER ROOM IS HK$780 TO HK$800 PER MONTH, WHICH IS OVER HALF OF THE MONTHLY INCOME OF A STAFF MEMBER OR WORKER. THERE ARE GOVERN- MENT RESIDENTIAL BLOCKS AT CHEAP PRICES BUT THERE IS NO WAY SUPPLY CAN MEET DEMAND. PEOPLE OFTEN HAVE TO WAIT FOR MANY YEARS, SOMETIMES OVER 10 YEARS, BEFORE THEY ARE ABLE TO MOVE INTO THESE BLOCKS, ACCORDING TO PRESS REPORTS, OF THE NEWLY BUILT HOUSING ESTATES: 40 PERCENT ARE NOT RENTED BECAUSE PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD THEN. I HAVE VISITED SEVERAL OF MY FRIENDS,

IT IS MORE PROPER TO SAY THAT THEY LIVE IN *CAGES" THAN IN ROOMS. THEIR CHILDREN HAVE TO SLEEP IN BUNK BEDS AND EVEN TRIPLE-LAYER BUNK BEDS. THEIR "ROONS* ARE EXACTLY SIMILAR TO THE THIRD CLASS SLEEPING CARRIAGES HERE. IF YOU GET UP EARLY IN THE MORNING AND TAKE A STROLL IN THE STREETS OR GO INTO SOME BLOCKS, YOU ARE LIKELY TO FIND PEOPLE SLEEPING ON STAIR LANDINGS, IN CORRIDORS AND EVEN ON THE PAVEMENT. SOME WORKERS WHO SLEEP IN THE STREETS OFTEN RETURN FROM WORK TO FIND THEIR REDDING HAS BEEN TAKEN AWAY AS RUBBISH. ANOTHER IS THE PROBLEM OF ILLNESS. IN HONG KONG, IT IS A REALLY SERIOUS THING TO FALL ILL OR SUFFER FROM SONE SLIGHTLY MORE SERIOUS PHYSICAL DISORDER! THE CHARGE FOR A HOSPITAL BED IN AN ORDINARY HOSPITAL ALONE IS ALREADY OVER HK$100 PER DAY EXCLUSIVE OF FEES FOR TREATMENT AND MEDICINE. IT COSTS HK$100 TO HK$206 TO GET A FALSE TOOTH. THERE ARE INDEED SOME

WEERMENT HOSPITALS IN HONG KONG WHICH CHARGE AT A LOWER RATE. BUT THERE ARE FAR TOO FEW.

THERE IS A WIDE GAP BETWEEN THE RICH AND THE POOR IN HONG KONG, THERE ARE ADVANCED MATERIAL THINGS THERE BUT THERE ARE ALSO POVERTY AND EVILS IN SPIRITUAL LIFE. IN SUCH A "FREE" PORT, THERE IS REALLY FREEDOM TO SEEK MONEY BUT THERE IS ALSO FREEDOM TO LOSE ONE'S JOB, TO GO BANKRUPT, TO BE PENNILESS, TO COMMIT CRIMES AND EVEN TO BE SHOT, 1 APR HCW/SAVERY HL 27/12052 MAY ENDALL

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