x (rehouse is)
The word
On the basis of present trends a significant improvement in the surplus is likely at the close of the current financial year. Nevertheless, the Hong Kong Government will continue to keep public expenditure firmly under control and to contain the size of the public sector, presently equivalent to about 16 ct-17 per cent of the gross domestic product. This will be achieved through prudent management of resources and by continued efforts to increase the efficiency of the public service, the total size of which has increased by only 2 per cent in 1986.
IX. Social Programmes
(a) Housing
55. For the seventh consecutive year the Hong Kong Housing Authority has exceeded its annual target for the production of new flats, with 43,000 flats being added to the public housing stock. Private sector production was estimated to be a record 38,000 flats in 1986 and a similar level of production is expected in 1987.
56. On the basis of present rates of production, the Housing Authority should be in a position to meet the demand for rental housing by the mid-1990s. At the same time there is a growing demand from families wishing to own their own homes and this will take longer to satisfy. The Hong Kong Government is considering how private sector output can best be encouraged and how public resources can best complement the private sector in meeting the long-term demand for housing in the 1990s and beyond.
57. As part of the comprehensive programme to clear and rehouse families living in urban squatter areas, rehousing has started in preparation for a major clearance of squatters in the Shau Kei Wan area of Hong Kong Island in 1987. The Housing Authority also continued to improve the environment of many squatter areas, particularly those which cannot be cleared in the near future.
(b) Education
58. Some 17 per cent of total public expenditure was devoted to the Hong Kong education system last year, more than on any other single item of government activity. During the year the Hong Kong Government pressed ahead with its secondary schools building programme and A further 36 schools are scheduled for completion between now and 1990. On present progress, the full demand for places in forms 4 and 5 of secondary schools should be met by 1991. A Chinese Textbooks Committee was established whose task will be to ensure that an adequate supply of good quality textbooks will be available to schools wishing to adopt Chinese as the medium of instruction.
59. The Education Commission. set up in April 1984 to co-ordinate and give consolidated advice on educational policy in Hong Kong, released its second report in September. The report contains far-reaching recommendations for sixth form education, pre-school education, teacher preparation, open education and the financing of the education system. Public comment has been invited on its proposals and considerable debate has been generated. The Hong Kong Government expects to make decisions on the implementation of the report's recommendations in early 1987, following completion of the period of public consultation.
60. In 1986 the Hong Kong Government announced its intention to establish a third university in the territory. A committee to oversee the planning of the new institution has now been established with distinguished local and overseas membership. The new university will be a grouping of professional schools emphasising science, technology, management and business studies. It is expected that it will admit its first students in the early 1990s by which time the number of first-year, first degree places available to Hong Kong students will have risen to 8,300 compared with the present figure of 4,200.
61. Hong Kong now has five degree awarding institutions: the Hong Kong and Chinese universities, the two polytechnics and the Baptist College. In 1986 there were 16,000 students on degree courses and additional programmes will be introduced this year. At present, proposals for new degree courses at Hong Kong Polytechnic, City Polytechnic
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