How did the HK government
deal with the problems of
population growth?
What problems did the influx of
migrants from the mainland
bring about?
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
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
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.
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
Education Problem

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.
A roof top school, 1966.
Government Records Service
http://www.grs.gov.hk/ws/tc/resource/Education/primary_and_
secondary_education/Education_11.html
Roof Top School in Public Housing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2S9v1cXxhs

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.
Ma Tau Chung Government Primary School, located at
Fuk Cheung Street, To Kwa Wan, Kowloon, was
established in 1962.

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 nineyear free education in 1978.
Daughter of Kwok-A Incident
18 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 KwokA 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
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/Educati
on_1.html
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

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_seco
ndary_education/Education_9.html
How did the HK
government control
population growth?
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.
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&co
ntent=info/postershow.asp&year=1982&poster=pic1982.jpg
FPA promotion video
Two is Enough

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz7dZSOzJzo&fe
ature=related
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
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.
FPA promotion video
Family Big or Small,
Family Planning is Best for All.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_n5rskFhto

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The attitudes of Hong Kong people towards childbearing
change with the change of society.
In the 1980s, the concept “Two is enough” was deeprooted. 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.
END