ENG-2011 — Page 510

438 History

high value-added products. Taking advantage of the abundant supply of land and labour in the Pearl River Delta, industrialists have expanded their production bases across the boundary while retaining their headquarters in Hong Kong. This mode of operation has contributed to economic development in the region and facilitated the transformation of Hong Kong into a services centre.

In 1966, the year the Cultural Revolution was launched on the Mainland, tension mounted 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 as an entrepôt, particularly for trade with. China. Coupled with tourism, this led to vast improvements in communications, with an increasing number of people entering the Mainland from or through Hong Kong, the natural gateway, each year.

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 Hong Kong International Airport at Chek. Lap Kok has been in operation since 1998.

The new towns in the New Territories, which accommodate 49 per cent of Hong Kong's population, have eased the pressure on development of the main urban areas. Current planned projects continue to spur the economy, create jobs and enhance the environment.

The development of Hong Kong's economic base has enabled the Government to increase spending on education, social welfare, health and other needs. The estimated total government expenditure for 2011-12 amounts to $378.2 billion.

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 since developed into a programme that encompasses a wide range of rental and home ownership flats with facilities.

The main aim of the Government's subsidised housing policy is to meet the housing needs of low-income families who

who cannot afford private rental accommodation. The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) develops and implements a public housing programme which seeks to achieve the government's subsidised housing policy goal. The HA's primary role is to help low-income families with housing need gain access to affordable public rental housing and keep the average waiting time for general applicants at about 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 has been provided to every student attending public sector schools since 1978. Senior secondary education and full-time courses offered

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