ENG-1959 — Page 396

HISTORY

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As, during 1948-9, the forces of the National Government of China began to retreat and disintegrate, a refugee influx surpassing all others took place, the refugees being in many cases well-to-do merchants and their families from Shanghai and other commercial centres. The highest point was reached in April 1950, when it was estimated that the Colony held about 2,360,000.

The Central People's Government was installed on 1st October 1949 and during the latter part of 1950. With the promise of more settled conditions in China, and with the departure of many of the wealthier refugees to Taiwan, South America and other distant places of refuge, the Colony's population fell for the first time since the war until by the end of 1950 it was thought to be around 2,060,000. Since then, however, due partly to the arrival of more refugees from China but principally to a high rate of natural increase, there has been another steady rise, bringing the population to the estimated figure of 2,919,000 at the end of 1959.

Intense and unprecedented development has accompanied this growth of population. One of the most striking features of the post-war years has been the steadily increasing part which the Government has begun to play, directly or indirectly, in the provi- sion of housing and other forms of social services for the poorer sections of the community. For a detailed account of developments in this field the reader is referred to Chapters 1 and 10. New low-cost housing schemes, of the conventional type or by way of multi-storied resettlement estates, have called for a heavy invest- ment of public funds. New schools, colleges, clinics, hospitals and other essential facilities have been provided as quickly as physical resources and the training of staff will permit-on a scale unprecedented in the Colony's history. Yet, despite the sub- stantial progress already made and the many new projects already being contemplated, the demand continues and is still far from being satisfied.

Private building on a wide scale has transformed and modern- ized much of the urban areas and the more accessible parts of the New Territories. Particularly in Kowloon and Tsuen Wan, industrialists have opened large modern factories producing a wide range of goods for export throughout the world. To meet the demand for more land for industry and housing, the Government has continued to carry out many new reclamations