ENG-1962 — Page 409

HISTORY

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2,360,000. Since then it has continued to rise, largely owing to a high birth rate.

Intense and unprecedented development has accompanied the growth of population. One of the most striking features of the post-war years has been the steadily increasing part which the Government has played, directly or indirectly, in the provision of housing and other forms of social services for the poorer sections of the community. Low-cost housing schemes and multi-storied resettlement estates have called for a heavy investment of public funds; schools, colleges, clinics, hospitals and other essential facilities have been provided on a scale unprecedented in the Colony's history. Despite the substantial progress made, however, 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. In Kowloon and Tsuen Wan particularly, industrialists have opened many large modern factories producing a wide range of goods for export to all parts of the world. To meet the demand for land for industry and housing the Govern- ment has continued to carry out many new reclamation schemes, principally in the central district, Causeway Bay and at various points on the northern shores of the harbour. The investigation of new areas for development is constantly in hand, and reservoir capacity is being further enlarged.

The spectacular growth of new factories and workshops, coupled with the Colony's need to keep pace with world-wide advances in production, management and marketing techniques, have been accompanied by higher standards of factory inspection, new labour legislation, and constantly increasing official concern with trade promotion, and technical and vocational training.

The Government has embarked on a large-scale reconstruction of the Colony's road network; more rigorous traffic controls have been introduced in the face of enlarged public transport services and the big increase in the number of private cars. The railway has changed from steam to diesel-electric traction. A new airport capable of meeting the needs of the biggest aircraft in service has been completed and is in full operation, a new $16 million terminal having been opened in November. Airline passengers, many of them tourists from overseas, have in turn created a