ENG-2007 — Page 497

History | 421

Current planned projects continue to spur the economy, creating jobs and enhancing the environment.

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 $120.8 billion in 1997-98 to an estimated $143.1 billion in 2007-08.

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 flats with self-contained facilities.

The key objective of the Government's subsidised housing policy is to provide assistance to low-income families who cannot afford private rental accommodation. The Hong Kong Housing Authority's primary responsibility is to build public rental flats to help families in need gain access to adequate and affordable housing and to assist the Government in maintaining the average waiting time for such flats to around three years.

The Government has been investing heavily in education to enhance Hong Kong's competitiveness in a knowledge-based and globalised economy. Free primary and junior secondary education is provided to every student. Senior secondary education and full-time courses offered by the Vocational Training Council for secondary three school leavers will also become free from September 2008. Tertiary education also remains heavily subsidised. It is the Government's policy that no student is deprived of education for lack of financial means.

The Government and non-governmental organisations have made major strides. in improving social welfare services to the public in the past decade which in turn have increased government spending on social welfare from 21.3 billion in 1997-98 to an estimated $37.4 billion in 2007-08. Social services are today provided not only for emergency relief, but for other needs as well.

The Government's health care policy was established in 1974 to ensure no one was denied adequate health care due to a lack of means. In accordance with that policy, the public sector provides a range of heavily subsidised health care services, available to everyone. The private sector, on the other hand, provides non-subsidised medical services that offer patients more choice and personal care. Hong Kong's health care service - public and private meets the highest standards. This is reflected in health figures that show people having longer lives and one of the world's lowest infant mortality rates.

Besides providing primary health care, the Department of Health also carries out activities to promote healthy lifestyles. The Hospital Authority (HA) was set up as a statutory body charged with, among other things, managing and developing the public hospital system. It advises the Government on the medical needs of the public and provides training for health care professionals. It currently manages 39 public hospitals/institutions, 48 specialist outpatient clinics and 74 general outpatient clinics