§ 40. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the estimated increase in the population of Hong Kong compared with May, 1952; what developments in the expansion of social services have taken place during the past two years; what progress has been made in trade union organisation; and what further improvement in local government is being considered.
§ Mr. LytteltonAs the answer is very long I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Following is the answer:
The population has remained steady during the last nine months at about 2,250,000.A full account of the considerable progress which has been made in the social services field will he found in the Colony's Annual and 2088 other Reports. Annual expenditure on education has increased by 54 million during the past two years and 38,000 more pupils have been accommodated in new schools.A pilot housing scheme for families with limited incomes has been completed and an expansion of this scheme is now under consideration. Over 34,000 persons have been resettled under the Government squatter clearance scheme. There has been an increase of 150,000 in the membership of Kaifong (Neigh-bourhood) Associations which are active in all aspects of community welfare. Plans for a new maternity hospital with 200 beds have been approved.Progress in trade union organisation is hampered by political divisions among the Chinese population, but there are now 300 registered unions compared with 280 at the beginning of 1951.Legislative provision will be made for the increase in the number of elected members on the Urban Council from two to four before the next election in May, 1953.