ENG-1977 — Page 280

HISTORY

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Social welfare development projects carried out in 1977 included the completion of five community halls; extending the public assistance scheme to cover the able-bodied unemployed; implementing the Child Care Centres Ordinances and opening six new government-subvented nurseries; making a start on a new institution to replace the Ma Tau Wei Girls' Home; establishing two homes and a hostel for the elderly; opening an advanced training centre for the mentally retarded; and providing more training places for mentally handicapped children.

In the 1976-7 financial year, government expenditure on social welfare increased to a total of $348 million.

Medical and health services have been continually improved. In 1977, a programme was introduced that will provide, over the next seven years, more than 4,600 additional hospital beds, five clinics, two polyclinics, two health centres, a second medical school and a dental school.

The development of maternal and child health services has been mainly responsible for reducing the infant mortality rate to a level now lower than in many developed countries, and a wide variety of services has brought about a generally good state of health throughout the community. A decade ago, tuberculosis was a major health problem in Hong Kong, accounting for more sickness and deaths than all other communicable diseases combined. Today, tuberculosis is no longer a problem and cancer and heart disease are the main causes of death.

During the post-war years, a comprehensive system of protection for wages, rest days, holidays with pay, maternity leave, sick pay and severance payments has been built up. In 1977, provision was made to grant, from January 1, 1978, seven days' paid annual leave to all employees covered by the Employment Ordinance. Sickness allowances and severance pay also were increased and further wage protection provided. Penalties for employing child labour were doubled and new safety regula- tions introduced. Better protection for workers injured on the job was provided by an amendment to the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance. Industrial workers' wages continued to rise during 1977. In September, 1977, the average daily wage, excluding fringe benefits, had increased by 37 per cent on the base period of July, 1973, to June, 1974. During the same period the cost of living index went up by 19 per cent.

New roads and flyovers have completely transformed road travel in the post-war era. In 1977, extensive improvements to the road systems of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories were being carried out. A second tube was laid in the Lion Rock Tunnel during 1977 and was due for completion in January, 1978. In 1977, some 21.9 million vehicles used the Cross Harbour Tunnel and revenue from toll fees amounted to $135.5 million. The Kai Tak Tunnel, a twin-tube, four-lane government project linking To Kwa Wan with Kwun Tong under the airport run- way, will be completed in early 1980. On Hong Kong Island, excavation work on the Aberdeen Tunnel, which will connect Aberdeen with Happy Valley, started in 1977. Work on the modified initial system of the mass transit railway was 40 per cent complete by the end of 1977. The 15.6-kilometre system will link the Central district of Hong Kong Island with Kwun Tong in Kowloon. There will be 12 stations under- ground and three above ground. The total cost of the system will be about $5,800 million.