ENG-2001 — Page 529

HISTORY

Southern Airlines, Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southwest Airlines, China Northern Airlines, Xiamen Airlines and China Northwest Airlines

operate about 1000 flight movements a week in scheduled and non-scheduled services between Hong Kong and 40 destinations in the Mainland.

The Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation operates frequent train services from Hung Hom in Kowloon to the Mainland boundary at Lo Wu. It also operates intercity through train services between Hong Kong and cities in Guangdong as well as Shanghai and Beijing. Seven trains are available daily from Hung Hom to Guangzhou, three of which call at Dongguan, and one terminates at Zhaoqing via Foshan. Since June 2001, a direct through train service has operated between Hong Kong and Dongguan on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Trains to Shanghai and Beijing operate on alternate days. Cross-boundary coach services operate different routes to Guangdong and other parts of southern China. Daily ferry services operate to Guangzhou and other ports in South China.

To keep pace with the development, the Government places strong emphasis on improving and expanding infrastructure. As a result, Hong Kong has been transformed into a modern city with efficient road and rail links, and first-class port and airport facilities. New highways have opened up previously remote areas, the railway networks are being expanded, and a new international airport has been in operation at Chek Lap Kok since 1998. Accommodating 40 per cent of Hong Kong's population, the nine new towns in the New Territories have eased the pressure on developable land in Kowloon and on Hong Kong Island. Current and planned projects would continue to spur the economy, creating job opportunities and enhancing the environment for the community.

The development of Hong Kong's economic base has enabled the public sector to increase spending on housing, education, social welfare and health over the years from $49.1 billion in 1991-92 to an estimated $158.6 billion in 2001-02.

Hong Kong's public housing programme started with an emergency measure to rehouse some 53 000 people made homeless overnight in a squatter fire on Christmas Day 1953. It has developed into a comprehensive programme that encompasses a wide range of rental and home ownership scheme flats with self-contained facilities.

The programme is in line with the Government's policy objectives to reduce the number of inadequately housed people, to help households gain access to affordable housing and to encourage home ownership in the community. The Hong Kong Housing Authority has primary responsibility for this programme. More than half of Hong Kong's families live in accommodation that they own.

Expenditure on education facilities and improvements has always been a major budget consideration. There are free and compulsory primary and junior secondary school places for every student up to the age of 15 years. Heavily-subsidised senior secondary and tertiary education is provided to ensure students are not deprived of education for lack of financial means. In 2001, for example, subsidised Secondary 4 places are provided for about 85 per cent of the young people who have reached the age of 15.

Government and non-governmental organisations have made major social welfare advances in the past decade, with expenditure increasing from $5.25 billion in 1990-91 to $30.2 billion during 2001-02. At the same time, social services have

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