ENG-1985 — Page 364

HISTORY

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To keep pace with the development and a policy of decentralisation, the government is committed to improving the infrastructure and an estimated $5,864 million, about 15 per cent of expenditure, is being spent on public works projects during 1985-6. New roads, tunnels and flyovers have completely transformed road travel throughout the territory in the post-war era and modern, multi-lane highways are opening up many new areas.

The development of Hong Kong's economic base has enabled the government to increase spending on social services over the years - from $2,874 million in 1975-6 to an estimated $20,699 million in 1985-6.

Accommodation has always been a problem with a rapidly growing population and expenditure in this field has increased accordingly. More than 2.4 million people now live in some form of public housing provided by the Housing Authority. Throughout 1985, public housing flats were being constructed at an average rate of almost 100 flats per day, and it is planned to continue providing about 40 000 flats a year under present conditions.

Expenditure on education facilities and improvements for Hong Kong's young and vibrant population has always been one of the major considerations in budget preparations and there are now primary and junior secondary school places for every student up to the age of 15.

In the field of social welfare, major advances have been made by both the government and voluntary agencies in the past decade with expenditure increasing from $311 million in 1975-6 to an estimated $2,220 million during 1985-6.

The medical and health services are also undergoing vigorous development programmes which, by the end of the decade, will provide five more hospitals and some 20 additional clinics and polyclinics.

During the post-war years, a comprehensive system of protection for wages, rest days, statutory holidays, paid annual leave, maternity leave, sick pay and severance payments has been built up, and the benefits provided have steadily improved. The minimum age for employment in both the industrial and non-industrial sectors is 15 years.

Public Records Office

Set up in 1972, the Public Records Office is now one of the largest local sources of information for historical and other studies relating to Hong Kong. The office currently manages 9 000 linear metres of official records, approximately 2 000 photographs and an extensive collection of maps, local newspapers and official publications.

The Public Records Office provides a records management service to government departments and makes material available for reference and research to both local and overseas scholars, journalists, students, members of the public and staff of other govern- ment departments.

Records which are to be retained permanently are held at the head office in Central District and at one of the two sub-offices at Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen. Semi-active records, many of which will eventually be destroyed, are stored in the second sub-office.

The increasing awareness of Hong Kong internationally has resulted in a growth over the past year in the number of reference enquiries received by the Public Records Office, and in the numbers of individuals conducting research on source materials held. In addition to the publication of several books based on these materials, records have been used in the production of television documentaries, films, exhibitions and articles for various news- papers and periodicals.

Following the closure of the Assessment Office in December 1984, certain records created during its existence were transferred to the Public Records Office. On May 28, subsequent