TNAG-1152-FCO40-1432-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-Commonwealth-1982 — Page 109

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Hong Kong 457

(2) Estate Duty.—Since May 1981, estates valued under HK$1 million are exempt from estate duty. The rates of charge vary from 15 to 17 per cent for estates valued between one and three million. For estates valued at over HK3 million, the rate is 18 per cent.

(3) Other Sources of Revenue.—Other sources of revenue are rates, stamp duties, entertainments tax, betting tax, business registration fees and hotel accommodation tax. Excise duties are also payable on tobacco, alcoholic liquors, certain hydro-carbon oils and methyl alcohol.

The following table shows Government revenue and expenditure from 1970/71 to 1980/81.

HK$m

3,071

3,541

Revenue

Expenditure

HK$m

2,452

2,901

4,936 5,241 5,875

4,300

5,169

6,255

6,520 7,494

6,032

6,591

8,997

11,090

13,872

18,441

HTT

1970-71 1971-72 1972-73 1973-74 1974-75 1975-76 1976-77

1977-78 1978-79 1979-80

1980-81

10,233

12,557 16,796

21,036

Note: The value of the Hong Kong dollar on the last working day of March 1981 was 8.5 pence.

Chinese and English are the languages in common use in Hong Kong, and schools are classified as Chinese and Anglo-Chinese schools according to the language of instruction used. Six years of free and compulsory education was introduced in 1971 and free junior secondary education of three years duration was achieved in 1978. Junior secondary education became compulsory in two stages beginning in September, 1979. Abundant education opportunities are provided beyond the junior secondary level in senior secondary classes in school, in technical institutes and in adult education centres.

In 1980 there were 197,410 pupils in kindergartens (all private), another 552,091 in primary schools and 526,259 in secondary schools.

There are five technical institutes in Hong Kong, all government-funded, providing craft and technician education to about 3,000 full-time, 9,000 part-time day, and 15,000 part-time evening students. In addition there are three approved post-secondary colleges with a total enrolment of 7,449 students, and four teachers' colleges offering part-time and full-time courses. The teachers' colleges had an enrolment of 1,250 in 1981.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic, financed by the government, is the largest single educational institute in Hong Kong. It provides post-secondary education to 6,487 full-time, 3,279 part-time day release and 11,824 part-time evening students. Hong Kong's two universities are the University of Hong Kong, established in 1911 and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, inaugurated in 1963. The University of Hong Kong has five faculties and three schools with a total undergraduate enrolment of 4,784. The Chinese University of Hong Kong comprises three constituent colleges-Chung Chi, New Asia and United. It has five facilities with a total undergraduate enrolment of 4,441.

The City Hall, a modern complex of well-equipped buildings, managed by the Urban Council, provides separate facilities for exhibitions, lectures, meetings and the presentation of concerts, cultural activities and conferences. It is the main venue for the Hong Kong Arts Festival and the Festival of Asian Arts which are held annually, attracting artistes of the highest calibre.

The Hong Kong Museum of Art, which is accommodated in the City Hall complex, houses and exhibits the Urban Council's collection of Chinese art and paintings. The Hong Kong Museum of History arranges permanent displays and special exhibitions. As the official archaeological repository, its Antiquities and Monuments Section is carrying out a systematic programme of research, survey and documentation of items of historical and archaeological interest,

The Urban Council is building a Cultural Centre in Kowloon which will include a space museum, two large auditoria, an arts library and new premises for the Museums of Art and History. The space museum, housing a 230-seat planetarium under one of the world's largest domes, opened 1980 with the remaining stages of the complex due for completion in 1982–3.

The Urban Council and the Urban Services Department also provide libraries throughout Hong Kong. There are 12 public libraries in the urban areas, nine in the New Territories and three mobile libraries.

The Hong Kong Arts Centre, an independent enterprise launched with government support, opened in October 1977.

History

The history of the Hong Kong community begins with the arrival of the Portuguese on the China coast in 1513, and the problems they faced in trying to establish commercial relations with China, where the main current of authoritative opinion was traditionally not interested in foreign trade.