Flying saucers in Hong Kong, a serial bus sign thief and students paid to stay in school: headlines from four decades ago
A journey back through time to look at significant news and events reported by the South China Morning Post, from this week in history
Reports of flying saucers spotted in Hong Kong skies and British education officials paying students to stay in school instead of claiming a government unemployment handout made the headlines four decades ago this week.
May 14, 1978
• An extensive survey of income and industry was hailed overseas as the most comprehensive study yet of Hong Kong’s economy and people. The 200-page report, titled Industrialisation, Employment and Income Distribution, was compiled by the University of Hong Kong. It recognised the city’s capacity to reduce income inequalities because of its economic growth, good prospects and education system.
A Coca-Cola crisis, a 12kg cyst and Hong Kong’s tallest building: headlines from four decades ago
• British education secretary Shirley Williams proposed paying teenagers as much as 10 British pounds (HK$90 at the time) a week if they stayed in school after they turned 16, in a bid to keep them off the nation’s swelling welfare lines. Government officials estimated the incentive could cost up to 200 million pounds a year. There were 1.5 million people unemployed in the country.
May 15, 1978
• Police were on guard against radical opponents of Tokyo’s new international airport following a series of guerilla activities, including an attack on aerial guidance facilities. Several left-wing extremists threw petrol bombs and hammered down part of the antenna and beacons on top of a building about 10km (six miles) northwest of the airport, which was due to open in a few days.