ENG-1978 — Page 313

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HISTORY

In the 1978-9 financial year, government expenditure on social welfare increased to a total of $535 million compared with $87.7 million in the 1972-3 financial year.

Medical and health services have been continually improved. The development programme over the next six years is providing several thousand additional hospital beds and more than 10 clinics, polyclinics and 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 have brought about a generally good state of health throughout the community. Two decades ago, tuberculosis was a major health problem in Hong Kong. Today, tuberculosis is under control 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 pro- vided. Penalties for employing child labour were doubled and new safety regulations introduced. Better protection for workers injured on the job was provided by amendments to the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance.

Industrial workers' wages continued to rise during 1978. In March, 1978, the average daily wage, excluding fringe benefits, had increased by 46 per cent on the base period of July, 1973, to June, 1974. During the same period the cost of living index went up by 22 per cent.

New roads and flyovers have completely transformed road travel in the post-war era. In 1978, extensive improvements to the road systems of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories were being carried out. Tuen Mun Road Stage 1, a 17 kilometre highway linking the new towns of Tsuen Wan and Tuen Mun, was opened to traffic in May, 1978. A second tube in the Lion Rock Tunnel opened in January, 1978. On July 17, 1978, the 100 millionth vehicle used the Cross Harbour Tunnel which opened in 1972. In the first six months of 1978, some 12.7 million vehicles used the tunnel and revenue from toll fees during this period amounted to $78.2 million. The Kai Tak Tunnel, a twin-tube, four-lane government project linking To Kwa Wan with Kwun Tong under the airport runway, will be completed in 1980. On Hong Kong Island, tunnelling work proceeded on the Aberdeen Tunnel, which will connect Aberdeen with Happy Valley in 1980.

Work on the modified initial system of the Mass Transit Railway was about 80 per cent complete by the end of 1978. The 15.6-kilometre system will link the Central District of Hong Kong Island with Kwun Tong in Kowloon with 12 stations under- ground and three above ground. The total cost of the system will be about $5,800 million. In September, 1979, the first section of the line will begin operating between Shek Kip Mei and Kwun Tong. The rest of the line will come into operation in March, 1980. The Tsuen Wan extension of the Mass Transit Railway costing an additional $4,100 million will come into operation at the end of 1982. The 10.5- kilometre extension will have 10 stations.