V. SOCIAL PROGRAMMES
36. During the year the Hong Kong Government has pressed ancad vigorously with its forward-looking social programmes to improve the well- being of the people of Hong Kong.
(a) Housing
37. The territory was able to maintain its performance and achievements in public housing construction. The Housing Authority exceeded its annual production target of 35,000 flats for the sixth successive time. With a further 12,000 flats built under the Private Sector Participation Scheme and by the Housing Society, public housing construction reached a record level of over 48,000 flats. Over 18,000 of these were for sale to the general public; yet another record, reflecting recovery and re-investment in the property market. Private sector housing production also increased with about 30,000 new flats completed.
38. 1985 saw the Hong Kong Government step up their squatter area clearance programme. Their object is to clear and rehouse all squatters in the urban area over the next ten years, with priority being given to those currently squatting on slopes vulnerable to landslip.
39. During 1985 the Housing Authority agreed to provide self-care hostels in public housing estates for the more able-bodied elderly members of the population; these hostels were in addition to the existing quota of shared flats and housing units for single persons in public housing estates. For those requiring a greater degree of personal care, the planning ratio for care-and-attention homes was raised from four to five places per thousand of the elderly population.
(b) Education
40. In the period under review, the Hong Kong Government again demonstrated the high value they place on extending educational opportunities. They set themselves the target of providing by 1991 enough subsidised places in Forms 4 and 5 (for children aged 15 and 16) in secondary schools, and in one- year full-time craft courses in technical institutes and training centres, to satisfy the demand for post-junior secondary education of 96 per cent of the age group completing Form 3. The achievement of this target which will mainly involve the construction of 24 new secondary schools, will permit the phasing-out of the unpopular Junior Secondary Education Assessment system, which at present selects and allocates Form 3 leavers to a limited number of Form 4 places in the public sector.
41. During the year 28,000 full-time or equivalent part-time students attended institutions of higher learning in Hong Kong, of whom 13,000 were on degree courses. In addition, the Joint Funding Scheme for Hong Kong students in Britain has provided a further valuable source of subsidised places in higher education. In Hong Kong, the target figure for first year places in first degree courses by 1994-95 was just over 6,300 until the Government announced that it would proceed with the planning of a third University. The target for provision of first year degree places by 1994-95 was thus increased to over 7,500. Hong Kong's second Polytechnic, the City Polytechnic, planning for which started in 1982, admitted its first students in October in temporary premises while its permanent campus is being constructed. Planning for a third University will commence shortly.
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