——各项社会事业迈上新台阶。教育事业在亚太地区保持领先地位。香港特别行政区政府持续加大对教育投入，2014-2015财政年度教育总支出预算为753.7亿港元，是政府开支的第一大项目。2008-2009学年开始在公营学校实施十二年免费教育。根据英国泰晤士高等教育研究机构公布的2013年亚洲大学排行榜，香港大学、香港科技大学进入前十名；2013-2014年世界大学排名中，香港大学名列第43位。在反映基础教育水平的“国际学生评估(PISA)” 2012年全球测试中，香港继续名列前茅。

　　医疗卫生事业不断进步。2014-2015财政年度用于医疗服务的财政预算支出524亿港元，占政府经常开支的17%。香港居民可平等享受价格低廉的公立医院服务。截至2012年底，香港各类医疗卫生机构共有病床3.55万张。香港婴儿死亡率由1997年的4‰下降至2013年的1.6‰，是全球婴儿死亡率最低的地方之一。2013年香港男性与女性的预期寿命分别为80.9岁及86.6岁，是全球预期寿命最高的地方之一。

-Social programs have been further enhanced. Hong Kong leads the Asia-Pacific region in education, as the HKSAR government continues to increase its investment in education, the biggest government expenditure item. During the 2014-2015 fiscal year, the HKSAR government's current budgetary spending on education reached HK$75.37 billion. Since the 2008-2009 school year, Hong Kong has implemented 12-year free education in public schools. The University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology are among Asia's top-ten universities, according to the Times Higher Education Asian University Rankings 2013. The University of Hong Kong was the 43rd according to the World University Rankings 2013-2014. Hong Kong continues to rank high in the global test of the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2012, which reflects the quality of primary education.

Hong Kong continues to provide quality medical and health care services. During the 2014-2015 fiscal year, the HKSAR government's budget for expenditure on medical and health care is HK$52.4 billion, accounting for 17 percent of the government's recurrent expenditure. All Hong Kong residents enjoy equal access to affordable public medical services. By the end of 2012, Hong Kong had more than 35,500 beds in various medical institutions. The infant mortality rate dropped from 4 per thousand in 1997 to 1.6 per thousand in 2013, which is among the world's lowest. In 2013, the life expectancy of Hong Kong's male and female residents was 80.9 years and 86.6 years, respectively, which are among the world's highest.

　　文化、体育事业蓬勃发展。香港中外文化荟萃，特别行政区政府鼓励文化艺术多元发展，促进相互交流。香港已有潮人盂兰胜会、大坑舞火龙、大澳端午龙舟游涌、长洲太平清醮等4个独有项目被列入第三批国家级非物质文化遗产名录。香港2008年协办北京奥运会马术比赛项目，2009年主办第五届东亚运动会。帆板、乒乓球、自行车、武术等项目的运动员在奥运会、世锦赛、亚锦赛等国际赛场上屡创佳绩。

　　社会保障逐步完善。香港特别行政区政府在社会福利方面的开支总额由1997-1998财政年度的204亿港元增长到2014-2015财政年度预算的619亿港元，增长了2.03倍。香港已形成多层次、多元化的社会保障和福利服务体系。社会服务机构共有400多家，注册社工从1998年底的8300名发展到目前的1.8万多名。特别行政区政府还积极推动公共房屋建设，协助基层市民入住公共房屋，资助市民自置居所。香港约有一半市民居住在政府提供或资助的房屋，其中超过200万人租住公共房屋，100多万人居住在政府资助的自置房屋。

Cultural and sports activities are flourishing in Hong Kong, where the Chinese and foreign cultures intermingle. The HKSAR government encourages the diverse development of Hong Kong's culture and promotes cultural exchanges. Four unique Hong Kong cultural events were added to the third batch of the State-level Non-material Cultural Heritage List, namely, Yu Lan Ghost Festival, Tai Hang fire dragon dance, Tai O dragon boat parade, and Cheung Chau Jiao Festival. Hong Kong hosted the equestrian events of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, and the fifth East Asian Games in 2009. Hong Kong athletes have excelled themselves in events such as windsurfing, table tennis, cycling and martial arts during the Olympics, World Championships and Asian Championships.

Hong Kong's social security service has been continuously improved. During the fiscal year 2014-2015 the HKSAR government's budget for social welfare reached HK$61.9 billion, 3.03 times as compared with the HK$20.4 billion during the fiscal year 1997-1998. Hong Kong has put in place a multilayer and diversified social security and welfare service system. Hong Kong has more than 400 social service agencies, and the number of registered social workers has increased from 8,300 at the end of 1998 to more than 18,000 today. The HKSAR government actively promotes the construction of public housing, moves low-wage residents into public housing, and provides financial aid to those who purchase housing units. Around half of Hong Kong's residents live in housing provided or funded by the government. Among them, more than 2 million live in rented public housing, and over 1 million have purchased housing units with government financial aid.