resources of Tibet. For historical and geographical reasons, the economy of Tibet was relatively backward compared with that of the rest of China. The gross national product of the province had amounted to 1.56 billion yuan renminbi in 1988, with a revenue of 2.26 million yuan renminbi. -As the Committee could see from those figures, the central Government would have had to confiscate the province's entire revenue for a considerable number of years to make up the sum it was alleged to have stolen. The truth was that Tibet relied heavily on aid from the central Government; in 1988, that aid had amounted to 1.04 billion yuan renminbi. The mineral re:ources of Tibet were very limited, so it was impossible for the Government to have earned as much from exploiting the province's minerals as certain non-governmental organizations had claimed. Timber production, too, was very limited; in 1988, it had amounted to only 230,000 cubic metres, which was all required for local use. In fact, raw materials and daily necessities had been imported from the rest of China for many years; for instance, in the period 1959 to 1989, Tibet had imported some 1.7 billion jin of grain. Members of the Committee had asked about discrimination in housing and employment. In Tibet, the average living space for employees and workers was 9 square metres or more. Some people built their own Tibetan-style houses at their own expense, and in agricultural areas many farmers and herdsmen lived in the traditional felt tents. In 11 counties of the Autonomous Region of Tibet, the living space was 9.99 square metres per person, compared with 8 square metres in Peking and 7 square metres in Shanghai. With regard to employment, there was actually a shortage of labour in Tibet; and there was no 
**Analysis**
The text appears to discuss the economic situation of Tibet, including its gross national product, revenue, and dependence on aid from the central government. It also touches on the limited availability of natural resources, such as minerals and timber, and the importation of goods from the rest of China. Additionally, it addresses questions about discrimination in housing and employment, providing statistics on living space and labor shortages.

**Category**
Economic development, Employment