§ Sir P. Bryanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what extra developments in the housing programme will follow the increased levels of expenditure announced in the Hong Kong Appropriation Bill 1976.
§ Mr. EnnalsThe increased levels will enable new contracts to be let during 1976–77 for the construction of 44,300 flats to house 267,400 people. This is in addition to the contracts already in hand for the construction of 43,900 flats for 279,900 people.
§ Sir P. Bryanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what extra expenditure on social welfare will be authorised following the increased levels of general expenditure announced in the Hong Kong Appropriation Bill 1976.
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§ Mr. EnnalsThe provision for social welfare in 1976–77 is HK$422 million, compared with the revised estimate of HK$370 million for 1975–76. In real terms, this is nearly double the level of expenditure envisaged for 1976–77 in the five-year plan for social welfare published in 1973.
§ Sir P. Bryanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what expansion in the recreational facilities will be made possible by the increased expenditure announced in the Hong Kong Appropriation Bill 1976.
§ Mr. EnnalsProvision has been made to develop country parks and a new indoor stadium with seating capacity of up to 17,500. Recurrent expenditure on recreation is expected to be double that for 1975–76.
§ Sir P. Bryanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what extra hospital services can be financed by the increased expenditure included in the Hong Kong Appropriation Bill 1976.
§ Mr. EnnalsIt is planned to increase the number of hospital beds from 18,137 to 18,831, a ratio of 4.18 per 1,000 population. Provision has also been included for the opening of two polyclinics and a specialist clinic; and for planning to start on a new teaching hospital.
§ Sir P. Bryanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what improvements in the Hong Kong police force will be made possible by the increased levels of expenditure announced in the Appropriation Bill 1976.
§ Mr. EnnalsFunds have been provided to bring the police force up to strength, to create a training reserve and to increase the numbers at the police training school. Communications are to be improved, including the establishment of 28 reporting stations to establish greater contact with the general public.
§ Sir P. Bryanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what improvements in education will be made possible by the increased levels of expenditure announced in the Hong Kong Appropriation Bill 1976.
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§ Mr. EnnalsIncreases in subsidised places in middle schools including an additional 18,800 in the first year; and provision of a further 1,000 places in the three technical institutes, 700 places in the universities and 959 places at the Hong Kong Polytechnic. The building of 33 new secondary schools will begin and work on two further technical institutes continued.