on a scale comparable to the Government's medical service. Indeed it was specifically stated that such a service would be an extremely costly development, and one beyond the Government's ability to finance at that stage. Apart from proposals for a school dental service already in the course of implementation, and given the continuing pressure for more pressing social services, it is not thought that Government could con- template any general public dental service on the lines of existing medical out-patient clinics in the foreseeable future. This emphasises the wholly teaching role of the DTH and the need to make special arrangements for its management.
5
A possible solution from this point of view would be for the University to take over completely the running of the Hospital, and for all funds, both for teaching and for the operation of the Hospital, to be channelled through through the UPGC. The UPGC has been consulted on this proposal, but has advised that neither the UPGC nor its Secretariat has the necessary expertise to enable them to accept responsibility for the fabric and operation of a hospital. Furthermore, they considered that the management capacity of the University of Hong Kong should not be channelled into managing a major service unit like the DTH. Moreover, they considered it essential to retain the balance between service and teaching budgets and activities of the Dental School, and these should not be rolled together to distort the overall relativities within the University.
The Proposed Independent Authority
6
The solution which is now proposed is the establishment of a statutory Board of Governors, which would be charged with responsibility for the commissioning and management of the Dental Teaching Hospital, within which courses for the training of dentists and para-dental workers would be conducted by the University of Hong Kong. This solution is acceptable to the Medical Sub-Committee of UPGC.
7
The Board would be established as a corporation, with the usual powers to acquire, hold and dispose of property, to enter into contracts and to sue and to be sued.
8
The Director of the Hospital, who would be a dentally-qualified teacher nominated by the University, would be responsible to the Board for the day-to-day running of the Hospital; he would be assisted by such staff as the Board considered necessary. In addition there would be a Comptroller, who would be the Financial Officer, and as such would work to the Director on the day-to-day running of the DTH, but would be directly responsible to the Board for all financial matters and budgets on the operational side.
CONFIDENTIAL
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