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Hospital fees
Having introduced a scheme which may take years to implement, I now wish to make a few more comments on matters which can be dealt with quickly by Government. First, on fees - I refer to hospital fees in particular. While the average cost to the community of a bed in an acute general hospital amounts to some $400 per day, a general ward patient is at present charged at $15 a day inclusive, which can actually cover the cost of meals alone. On this basis, I think it would not be wrong in principle or excessive in practice to start charging a moderate sum for items such as X-ray, laboratory tests, physiotherapy treatments, surgical procedures, etc. conducted in Government hospitals. Of course, those patient
who cannot afford may have the fees waived or reduced. This will go a long way towards contributing to the future expansion of our medical service and allowing necessary increases in the
medical budget.
Dutiable commodities
The tax on soft drinks creates some problems. I wish to seek clarifications from the Financial Secretary that besides milk, pure fruit juice and distilled water, other health drinks such as pure soya bean milk are exempted from tax. The Hong Kong Soya Bean Products Co. Ltd. has made a representation to UMELCO that its pure soya bean milk product should be classified under food and milk and not under
non-alcoholic beverages. I support this request.
I understand that soya bean milk has always been regarded as a cheap substitute for dairy milk, especially for those who are intolerant to lactose. Back in 1940, Beri-beri
The and Pellagra were very common diseases in Hong Kong. Company launched its soya bean milk in that year for the relief of those suffering from malnutrition but could not afford to buy fresh milk. I was told that it was also commonly used in third-class wards of Government hospitals at that time.
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