ENG-1961 — Page 44

REVIEW

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battle against overcrowding. True there are still some black spots where high densities appear; but even if so small a unit as the census division is taken (about 10,000 persons) only seven of these units in Hong Kong, six in New Kowloon, and none in Kowloon proper and the New Territories exceed 2,000 persons to the acre. The two highest densities are both on Hong Kong Island-a division measuring 3.84 acres between Graham and Aberdeen Streets and another of 4.48 acres near the Wan Chai Market, each with just over 2,800 to the acre. These maximum densities are no greater than some recorded in 1931, but the great difference now is that slightly lower (but still high) densities are spread over a much larger part of the urban area, densities of 1,800 per acre being found as far afield as Sai Ying Pun and Ngau Tau Kok.

The proportion of households who own their homes is also encouraging. In the New Territories it is not surprising that 60% of householders are owners, because the farmer likes to live in his own cottage, however small. It is no more surprising that 95.4% of the boat people own the boats on which they and their families pass their lives. But even in Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Kowloon the proportions are 13.2%, 11.9% and 17.5% and of the 687,209 households throughout the Colony no less than 153,805 claimed to own their homes. And though these figures must include a good number (in squatter areas and on rooftops) whose 'ownership' hardly rests on a good title, there can be no doubt that the system of buying, instead of renting, a house or flat is becoming popular-another sign of a settled population.

There is a noteworthy improvement, except among the boat people, in educational standards. Of all aged 10 and upwards in the whole Colony, 75% are literate (91% of the men and 58% of the women). This compares with 51% (74% of men and 19% of women) in 1931. And of the 2,535,000 people of age to have been to school, only 611,000 have had no schooling, of whom 527,000 (including 438,000 women) are already past school age. Clearly there is still a good way to go before it can be said that everyone here except the mentally retarded can read and write. But a good deal has been done. Of the 1,899,000 who have been to school, 346,000 males and 167,000 females have had schooling above the primary level. Whereas in 1931 a literate female was hard to find, now at all ages below 35 literate females exceed