13.2 Any capital works programme of the magnitude suggested must take into account the economic circumstances of Hong Kong from year to year. Nevertheless, the Government is confident that it should be possible by 1984 to carry out those projects which are listed in paragraph 13.3(a)-(f) below. Those projects listed at paragraph 13.3(g)-(m) will be implemented as soon thereafter as economic circumstances and the competing demands for available fiscal resources permit.
13.3 The total of $914 m. referred to in paragraph 13.1 is composed of the following amounts—
(a) All items at present in categories A and B of the Public Works Programme, other approved capital items, departmental special expenditure and related furniture and equipment
$314 m.
(Details of items in Categories A and B may be seen at Appendix 3)
(b) Sha Tin and Tuen Mun hospitals and
the Sha Tin General Clinic (not yet in the Public Works Programme)
(c) Second Medical School at CUHK
13.5 It should be noted that, in practice, the increase in recur- rent expenditure will not be uniform. There will be a sharp increase in 1975-76 as the Princess Margaret Hospital is commissioned, a lower rate for the next three years and larger annual increases from 1979-80 when the first of the major new projects is commis- sioned. It must be borne in mind that the implications for recur- rent expenditure are as important as capital cost when decisions are taken as to when the various projects listed can be undertaken.
13.6 The ambitious programme which is described in this White Paper will make substantial demands upon the resources of the community. If achieved, it will provide a substantial expansion of medical and health services in the New Territories, will ensure better facilities in the urban areas and give a more effective cover- age of clinics throughout Hong Kong. The ratio of beds to people, in spite of the problems arising from a fast rising population, will be maintained and, when the full programme is achieved, will be improved. All these measures should go far to provide medical services of a quality and quantity which the people of Hong Kong would like to see.
255 m.
41 m.
(d) Dental School
(e) School Dental Service
() Nurses Training School
38 m.
21 m.
21 m.
$690 m.
(g) East Kowloon Hospital
92 m.
(h) Shau Kei Wan Psychiatric Hospital
40 m.
(i) Additional improvements to hospitals under
the regionalization scheme
38 m.
(1) New and reprovisioned clinics
19 m.
(k) New blood transfusion services
(1) Ancillary laundry services (m) Miscellaneous minor items
}
25 m.
10 m.
$224 m.
$914 m.
13.4 It is expected that, on the completion of all these projects, the annually recurrent costs (including subventions) of the Medical and Health Services would increase from $460 m. in 1974-75 to about $900 m. at current prices. However, the annual figure of recurrent expenditure would be reduced to about $800 m. if the projects listed in paragraph 13.3(g)-(m) are not completed by 1984.
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