Addressing Challenges of Population Growth in Hong Kong: A Historical Overview

1. How did the HK government deal with the problems of population growth?

2. What problems did the influx of migrants from the mainland bring about?

3. Housing Problem: • According to the Census of 1981, HK still had 700,000 people living in squatters. Most of them were migrants from the mainland after 1976. Classical Hong Kong Film~ Hong Kong Squatter Area 1959 The World of Suzie Wong http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lge_NzF3KLc

4. What was the living conditions at that time? • Overcrowded • Poor Living environment • Poor hygiene • Danger of fire Squatters were seriously destroyed by typhoon. Source：Hong Kong Observatory http://www.weather.gov.hk/informtc/no10/wanda/fc31.htm

5. In 1949, Masses of refugees surged into the territory as a result of the civil war in the mainland. The number of squatters increased drastically. In 1953, a fire swept through the Shek Kip Mei Squatter area in Kowloon, rendering more than 50,000 people homeless overnight.

6. Squatters in 1970s and 1980s 中國文化研究所 Chinese Culture Research Centre http://www.chiculture.net/0217/html/c18/1205c18.html

7. EducationProblem • Masses of refugees surged into Hong Kong. It led to the shortage of schools and school places. Many children were deprived of education. There were good shortages of school places, premises and teachers. • During 1950s and 1960s, many voluntary organizations set up schools on the roof tops of resettlement blocks. It provided chances for lower-class children to receive education. These schools were called “Roof Top Primary Schools”. • The facilities in early roof top primary schools were poor, but it gave valuable chances for lower-class children to be educated.

8. A roof top school, 1966. Government Records Service http://www.grs.gov.hk/ws/tc/resource/Education/primary_and_secondary_education/Education_11.html

9. Roof Top School in Public Housing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2S9v1cXxhs

10. Under such situation, the government introduced a “Seven-Year Plan for Primary School Expansion” in 1955, including the building of five government primary schools and drastically increasing the primary school places. • Basing on the above plan, the government published the “White Paper on Education Policy” in June 1965. 80% children could be educated in government-aided primary schools. Also, 15% of the pupils completing primary education could be admitted to the government, aided or some selected private secondary schools. This report laid a foundation for policy development in the coming10 years, which aimed at expanding the number of school places and the development of government aided schools.

11. Ma Tau Chung Government Primary School, located at Fuk Cheung Street, To Kwa Wan, Kowloon, was established in 1962.

12. In 1970, Governor David Trench announced in his Policy Address that compulsory primary education would be implemented in the following year. Under the Education Ordinance, parents withholding their children from receiving school education would be penalized. • Governor MacLehose made greater efforts in extending mass education to junior secondary level. Education Committee announced the Report of the Board of Education on the Proposed Expansion of Secondary School Education in Hong Kong Over the Next Decade, which aimed at providing subsidized junior secondary school places to 80% of young population by 1981. Further development of voluntary education led to the introduction of nine-year free education in 1978.

13. Daughter of Kwok-A Incident18 May 1986 • In 1986, the press in Hong Kong first reported that a 6-year-old girl, daughter of Kwok-A, was illegally detained by her mentally unstable mother at their public housing flat in Kwai Chung. Daughter of Kwok-A was detained by her mother in the flat for a long period and did not go to school. • After investigating the case and having obtained the approval from Anson Chan, the Social Welfare Department broke into the flat with the help of the police, Fire Services Department, Home Affairs Department and the Housing authority. They forcibly separated the child from her mother under a child and mother protection law. The daughter was sent to Chuk Yuen Children’s Reception Centre afterwards, and the mother was sent to a mental hospital for treatment. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bmc-iX6etCo

14. Correspondence between the Colonial Secretary and Director of Education on the White Paper on Education Policy, 1965 (extracted from a record of Colonial Secretariat in 1965). Government Records Service http://www.grs.gov.hk/ws/tc/resource/Education/education_policy/Education_1.html

15. A series of education reports, e.g. nine years of general education for all. Extracted from Secondary Education in Hong Kong over the Next Decade, 1974. Government Records Service http://www.grs.gov.hk/ws/tc/resource/Education/education_policy/Education_2.html

16. Side by side with the increase of school places, the government provided training for teachers. In 1951, Grantham College of Education was set up by the government. The college aimed at training certificate master teachers for junior secondary and primary schools. • In 1960, the number of school paces increased. The Sir Robert Black College of Education was set up to meet the demand for teachers. Government Records Office http://www.grs.gov.hk/ws/tc/resource/Education/primary_and_secondary_education/Education_9.html

17. How did the HK government control population growth?

18. Measures • Abolished Touch Base Policy in 1980. • Introduced “Repatriation upon Arrest”, deported illegal migrants back to the mainland. • Introduce family planning. The family Planning Association of Hong Kong (Wanchai Headquarters ) Birth Control- further efforts needed (1968) Hong Kong Honour Publishing Co. Ltd.

19. The family Planning Association of Hong Kong (FPA) • Formerly known as the Eugenics League founded in 1936, the organization was reorganized and renamed the “Family Planning Association of Hong Kong” in 1950. • The FPA is responsible for promoting family planning in HK. FPA Posters Gallery http://www.famplan.org.hk/fpahk/zh/template1.asp?style=template1.asp&content=info/postershow.asp&year=1982&poster=pic1982.jpg

20. FPA promotion video Two is Enough • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz7dZSOzJzo&feature=related

21. FPA promotion video Be a Mr. Able in Family Planning Other FPA promotion videos can be seen on the FPA webpage: http://www.famplan.org.hk/fpahk/zh/template1.asp?style=template1.asp&content=info/tv-ad.asp

22. Conclusion • To obtain accurate data on HK population, HK government started to conduct population census and population by-census in 1961 and 1966 respectively. Both censuses are conducted every ten years. Population census is conducted in the 2nd year of each decade, while population by-census is conducted between two population censuses, i.e. in the 7th year of each decade. • After abolishing the Touch Base Policy and introducing family planning, the population in HK grew steadily. HK government can make policies according to population censuses to give better life to residents.

23. FPA promotion video Family Big or Small,Family Planning is Best for All. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_n5rskFhto

24. The attitudes of Hong Kong people towards childbearing change with the change of society. • In the 1980s, the concept “Two is enough” was deep-rooted. Most families only had two children. However, from 1990s until today, many families only plan to have one child, or even none. • Ageing population will be an urgent problem to HK society after a few decades. •  Entering the 21st century, HK government needs to encourage parenthood . • The growth in population symbolizes the development of HK economy and society.

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