and nurses, and the supply to be expected from existing training establishments, and to indicate any deficiencies.
4. While for the time being the Government is not pre- pared to contemplate a general dental service similar to the general medical services, to make recommendations on:
(a) provision of a schools dental care service; (b) a target for the number of dentists considered appro- priate in the circumstances of Hong Kong to serve the public and private sectors by the end of the period under review;
(c) having regard to (b) above, and the Committee's views on the extent to which overseas training may be ex- pected to contribute, the extent to which local train- ing facilities should be provided for dentists and dentists' assistants.
and to furnish a report by 31st July, 1973.'
Their report was tabled in the Legislative Council on 31st October 1973 and published in order that the general public might be aware of their recommendations and express their views on the conclusions reached by the Committee.
As indicated in the foreword published in the report the Government would then determine what should be the extent and speed of such expansion in the light of public comments and competing claims on scarce resources including qualified staff, money and land.
This White Paper sets out the Government's proposals for the further development of medical and health services. The proposals are divided into those for which funds are likely to be available over the next ten years, given some increase in taxation, and those for which funds cannot be assumed but which should proceed if the revenue position and competing bids so allow. To implement all the proposals would involve roughly doubling recurrent expenditure on medical and health services to about $900 million a year at 1974 prices. The full capital cost would be about $914 million at 1974 prices most of which would occur after 1977-78. Although it is the Government's inten- tion to carry out these proposals whenever possible, it is prudent
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to divide them into two groups. The implications of this, and the priorities to be adopted for development, are discussed more fully in Chapter 13. Progress will be subject to annual review by the MDAC in the light of changing needs and of budgetary circumstances. The first such review will begin in 1975.
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