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Wednesday, October 16, 1974
Let me say that in this programme of
labour legislation the Government has no wish to place industrial
relations in a straight jacket. I know that this is not the
—
wish of either workers or employers both of whom value the
flexibility which has contributed so much to both the tradition
and the strength of Hong Kong. Broadly speaking we intend to
continue to move only after close consultation with the Labour
Advisory Board, and other organisations concerned. I am glad
to say that Hong Kong's performance over the application of the
ILO Convention is already fairly satisfactory, though we expect
to be able to make some further improvement.
MEDICAL & HEALTH SERVICES
In the field of Medical and Health Services we now
have in the White Paper published in July a realistic and forward
looking framework for future development, and I am most gråteful:
to Sir Albert Rodrigues and the Medical Development Advisory
Committee for all the work they put in. I am also grateful for
the comments and advice from professional bodies and the public.f
The proposals in the White Paper and the accompanying
work that has been done, provide a framework within which co- ...____
ordinated progress has been charted over a ten year period.
They envisage the construction of new hospitals and clinics,
the extension of Medical and Health Services to the new towns
and the New Territories, measures to relieve over-crowding in
Government hospitals and to make fuller use of beds in Government-
assisted hospitals, more specialist treatment particularly
for psychiatric patients and the elderly, and a general improvement
in standards wherever practicable.
/The point