CRC/C/CHN/CO/2 page 14 Standard of living 71. The Committee commends the State party for impressive economic achievements in mainland China and increased resource allocations for people living in poverty in recent years, including through the provision of scholarships to disadvantaged children. However, it is concerned that poverty, in particular with regard to certain regions and specific populations, such as the migrant or “floating” population, as well as growing disparities remain serious concerns. 72. Similarly, despite the economic achievements of the Hong Kong SAR, the Committee remains concerned at the existence of child poverty among vulnerable populations such as the unemployed, immigrants and single-parent families and at the lack of an established poverty line, which hinders the formulation of appropriate policies to combat poverty. 73. The Committee recommends that in mainland China, the State party continue to strengthen its efforts to achieve balanced economic development, including through adjustments in budgetary allocations mentioned in paragraph 20 of this document, and through the consolidation of the database on child poverty. It further urges the State party to expand benefits such as scholarships for disadvantaged children, including those from vulnerable populations such as the “floating” population and from poor regions in western China. 74. The Committee recommends that in the Hong Kong SAR, the State party establish a poverty line and develop appropriate policies to combat child poverty that address widening income disparities while expanding access to social welfare benefits to all vulnerable populations, including new immigrants. 6. Education, leisure and cultural activities Education, including vocational training and guidance 75. While noting efforts made by the State party in mainland China, the Committee is concerned about remaining disparities in access to and availability of education, which negatively affect girls, children with learning difficulties, ethnic minority children, children living in rural areas and western provinces, and migrant children. The Committee is also specifically concerned about the existence of miscellaneous fees for compulsory education, high student-teacher ratios, high dropout rates in middle and secondary school and the quality of education throughout the mainland. 76. In the Hong Kong SAR, the Committee is concerned about dropout rates in secondary schools, the competitive nature of the school system and bullying in schools. The Committee regrets the limited amount of information available on these issues in the Macau SAR. 77. The Committee recommends that in mainland China, the State party: (a) Eliminate all miscellaneous and other “hidden” fees for primary education in order to ensure that it is truly free;