§ Sir Anthony Royleasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the increase of gross domestic product in real terms of 1975 over 1974 and the estimated increase of 1976 over 1975 in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. LuardThe increase in gross domestic product in real terms for 1975 over 1974 was plus 3 per cent, in the case of Hong Kong, and minus 1.4 per cent, in the case of the United Kingdom. The
588Wernment of foreign language broadcasting by the British Broadcasting Corporation External Services is estimated at £15,409,000. This total covers the following:
estimated increase for 1976 over 1975 in the case of Hong Kong is approximately 16 per cent. A comparison of the first six months of 1976 with the first six months of 1975 in the case of the United Kingdom shows a decrease of 0.1 per cent, in gross domestic product.
§ Sir Anthony Royleasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by what date the Government of Hong Kong intend to provide three years of secondary education for all students: how many new places have been provided in 1976 to date: and how many new 589W schools will be constructed by the Government in the next two years.
§ Mr. LuardThree years' secondary education for all will be available by 1980. An additional 11,500 new secondary education places have so far been provided in 1976. A further 45 new secondary schools, providing a total of 48,100 places, and a further 22 new primary schools will have been completed by September 1978.
§ Sir Anthony Royleasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by what date the Government of Hong Kong hope to provide decent self-contained housing within the means of all living in the colony: and if he will make a statement on the Hong Kong Government's housing policy.
§ Mr. LuardThe Hong Kong Government plan to build additional public housing for about 1.5 million persons by 1984–85, by which time decent self-contained housing, at subsidised rents, will be available for the majority of lower-income families. About 2 million persons or 45 per cent, of the population of Hong Kong currently live in subsidised housing: the number is expected to rise to 65 per cent. in 1984–85. In addition, the private sector is being encouraged to build and develop self-contained housing. I am satisfied with the efforts being made by the Hong Kong Government to improve the volume and quality of public housing.
§ Sir Anthony Royleasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Governor's plans for tertiary education by expansion of the polytechnics and universities in Hong Kong.
§ Mr. LuardThe Hong Kong Government plan to increase the number of students at the two universities in Hong Kong from 8,500 in the current academic year to 10,350 in the academic year 1980–81. The number of students at the Hong Kong Polytechnic will increase from the present 7,259 to 11,400 full-time and part-time equivalent—including evening students—by 1980–81.
§ Sir Anthony Royleasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth 590W Affairs if he will make a statement of his policy regarding full support for the present social policy of the Hong Kong Government.
§ Mr. LuardHer Majesty's Government welcome the Hong Kong Government's plans for further progress in social, labour and allied fields in Hong Kong, as set out by the Governor of Hong Kong in his statement to the Legislative Council on 6th October.
§ Sir Anthony Royleasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occupations of the members of Hong Kong Legislative Council today and those of their predecessors in 1946, 1956 and 1966.
§ Mr. LuardThe occupations of the unofficial Members of the Legislative Council for the years concerned are as follows:
- 1946.—2 businessmen, 2 solicitors, 1 barrister, 1 banker, 1 doctor (7).
- 1956.—3 businessmen, 2 doctors, 2 bankers, I solicitor (8).
- 1966.—8 businessmen, 2 solicitors, 1 engineer, 1 social worker, 1 educationalist (13).
- 1976.—10 businessmen, 2 bankers, 2 barristers, 2 solicitors, 1 doctor, 1 social worker, 1 school principal, 1 missionary, 1 trade unionist, 1 transport supervisor (22).
§ Sir Anthony Royleasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the actions the Hong Kong Government have taken to improve terms and conditions of employment within the colony.
§ Mr. LuardApproximately 130 items of legislation designed to improve conditions of employment and the safety and health of workers have been enacted over the past nine years. Further legislation is in preparation for this session of the Legislative Council.