ENG-1993 — Page 488

HISTORY

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After a period of economic stagnation caused by the United Nations' embargo on trade with China, Hong Kong began to industrialise. No longer could the territory rely solely on its port to provide prosperity for its greatly increased population. From the start, the industrial revolution was based on cotton textiles, gradually adding woollens and, in the late 1960s, man-made fibres and made-up garments. Although the share of total exports held by textiles and clothing has declined over the past 10 years, these still make up around 40 per cent of domestic exports by value. While textiles remain the mainstay of Hong Kong's economy, major contributions are made by electronic products, watches and clocks, plastic goods and other light industries.

Associated with events in China, 1966 saw mounting tension in Hong Kong. During 1967, this developed into a series of civil disturbances, affecting all aspects of life and temporarily paralysing the economy. But, by the year's-end, the disturbances were contained and the community continued its tradition of peaceful progress.

In the post-war years, Hong Kong continued to expand its role as an entrepôt with its neighbours and trade with China was no exception. Coupled with tourism, this led to vast improvements in communications, with an increasing number of people entering China from or through Hong Kong, a natural gateway, each year. One of the territory's carriers, Hong Kong Dragon Airlines, and three Chinese airlines China Southern Airlines, Air China and China Eastern Airlines operate both scheduled and non-scheduled services between Hong Kong and cities in China. Additionally, three other Chinese airlines China Southwest Airlines, China Northern Airlines and China Northwest Airlines

operate non-scheduled services between Hong Kong and destinations in China. The Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation runs, jointly with the Guangzhou Railway (Group) Corporation, four daily 'through' trains in each direction between Kowloon and Guangzhou, and one daily 'through' train in each direction between Kowloon and Foshan. A number of direct bus services operate different routes into Guangdong and other parts of southern China. There are also daily ferry services to Guangzhou and other ports in South China.

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To keep pace with the development, strong emphasis is placed by the government on infrastructural improvements. As a result, the territory has been transformed into a modern city with efficient road and rail links, tunnels and flyovers, as well as multi-lane highways which have opened up previously remote areas.

The development of Hong Kong's economic base has enabled the government to increase spending on housing, education, social welfare and health over the years from $16,261 million in 1983–84 to an estimated $70,060 million in 1993–94.

Starting with emergency measures to house some 53 000 people made homeless in the Shek Kip Mei squatter fire in 1953, Hong Kong's public housing programme now provides rental and self-owned flats of an increasingly higher standard for about three million people, or half the population.

Given impetus by the Long Term Housing Strategy, which aims to provide affordable housing for all those in need by the turn of the century, the programme is being implemented by the Housing Authority.

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. There are now free and compulsory primary and junior secondary school places for every student up to the age of 15 years. In 1993, the government was able to provide subsidised Secondary 4 places for about 84.9 per cent of the 15-year-olds in a continuing programme.