ENG-1995 — Page 489

HISTORY

was formally restored on May 1, 1946, when Sir Mark Young resumed his in- terrupted governorship.

The Post-war Years

After the Japanese surrender, Chinese civilians many of whom had moved into China during the war- returned at the rate of almost 100 000 a month. The population, which by August 1945 had been reduced to about 600 000, rose by the end of 1947 to an estimated 1.8 million. In 1948-49, as the forces of the Chinese Nationalist Government began to face defeat in civil war at the hands of the communists, Hong Kong received an influx unparalleled in its history. Hundreds of thousands of people - mainly from Kwangtung (Guangdong) Province, Shanghai and other commercial centres — entered the territory during 1949 and the spring of 1950. By mid-1950, the population had swelled to an estimated 2.2 million. It has continued to rise and now stands at over six million.

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 to the list. Textiles and clothing make up around 40 per cent of domestic exports by value. Electronic products, watches and clocks, and printing are also important 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.

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 scheduled and non-scheduled services between Hong Kong and cities in China. Three other Chinese airlines China National Aviation Corporation, 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 'through' trains daily to Guangzhou, one of which stops at Changping, and one train daily to Zhaoqing with an intermediate stop at Foshan. Direct bus services operate different routes into Guangdong and other parts of southern China. Daily ferry services run to Guangzhou and other ports in South China.

To keep pace with the development, the government places strong emphasis on infrastructural improvements. As a result, the territory has been transformed into a modern city with efficient road and rail links, tunnels and flyovers. New highways have opened up previously remote areas.

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