A. Social and Economic Background:

---Peoples' lives continued to improve, and the per capita GNP reached US$389 in 1970.

---Unemployment gradually dropped, falling to only 1.7% in 1970. ---The population grew rapidly at an average rate of 3.5% per year. The 0-14 age group constituted 40.1% of the population and those 65 or older 2.9% in 1970.

---The level of public education continued to rise. The illiteracy rate among people 15 years of age or older was 26.25% in 1970. High school and vocational school graduates and those with higher education made up 12.2% and 3.9% of the population respectively.

B. Food

---Electric refrigerators, electric rice cookers, kerosene stoves, and gas stoves came into use.

C. Clothing

---Washing machines (dual tank), sewing machines (electric), nylon fabric, polyester, and ready-made suits were some of the new features of this period.

D. Housing

1. Urban housing:

---Four-story apartment buildings began to appear, and structural steel and reinforced brick were gradually adopted. Electricity and running water came into universal use. Gas, flush toilets, and modern bathtubs also became widespread.

---Air conditioners, electric refrigerators, televisions, washing machines, and electric rice cookers began to appear.

---The average residential floor space was only 7.16 square meters per person, and the average number of bedrooms per person was only 0.53 (1966).

2. Rural housing:

---While western-style houses began appearing, traditional rural homes using wood and bricks remained the norm. Many types of fuel were used, but the use of gas was still rare.

---Electrification gradually became universal and running water made steady inroads in rural areas. Toilets were in common use, but were constructed along traditional lines.

3. The migration towards the cities continued. With a population of more than one million, Taipei formed a large metropolitan area together with neighboring cities. The Kaohsiung metropolitan area also began to take shape.

E. Transportation

---Bicycles, motorcycles

F. Education

---Middle school education became universal and the number of high school and vocational school students swelled.

G. Entertainment

---Radios (transistor-type), tape recorders, black and white television sets, cameras, and record players became common. ---The amount of leisure time increased and the types of recreational activities expanded thanks to the government's easing of certain restrictive measures. Apart from forest recreation areas and various artistic and cultural activities, mountain-climbing, skiing, and the use of man-made amusement facilities expanded people's recreation options and gave them more room for relaxation. ---The R.O.C.'s national little league team won the little league world championship in 1969, and this spurred a great rise in the popularity of baseball.

---The Ministry of Economic Affairs began establishing social education centers in Taiwan's major cities and conducting artistic and cultural activities. The R.O.C. began hosting and participating in many international cultural activities such as the Asian Film Festival.

---The development of scenic areas and forest recreation areas continued; many provincial and county (city) scenic areas were established.

---Restrictions on entering a number of scenic mountain areas were eased or eliminated. The Wulai cable car and Wuhsien Amusement Park were constructed.

H. Health Care

---Family planning formally began in 1968.

---The BCG vaccine was used as a preventative for tuberculosis. ---A program to control black foot disease got underway. ---UNICEF set up "milk stations" throughout Taiwan in order to improve children's nutrition.

---The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that cholera had been eradicated in Taiwan.