WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 1977
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ON PUBLIC HOUSING, MR. CHEONG-LEEN FELT THAT THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE MARKS 1 AND 11 BLOCKS -- BUILT OVER 20 YEARS AGO AND HOUSING 460,000 PEOPLE SHOULD BE ACCELERATED AND, IF POSSIBLE, COMPLETED WITHIN A 10-12 YEAR PERIOD INSTEAD OF 15-20 YEARS FROM NOW.
HE SUPPORTED THE GOVERNMENT'S HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME WHICH HE THOUGHT, MUST BE PUT ON A PRACTICAL AND EFFECTIVE BASIS+.
REFERRING TO THE PROPOSED FIVE-YEAR LIMIT WITHIN WHICH AN OWNER WISHING TO SELL HIS FLAT WOULD BE OBLIGED TO SELL IT TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, MR. CHEONG-LEEN WONDERED WHETHER THIS SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS TO AVOID ABUSE AND SPECULATION.
AS TO MEDICAL SERVICES, THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBER SAID THE SHORTAGE OF HOSPITAL BEDS AND THE LONG QUEUES AT GOVERNMENT CLINICS REFLECTED THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE SITUATION.
HE WONDERED WHETHER THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES HAD, APART FROM THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN, GIVEN THOUGHT TO INTRODUCING MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES SO THAT HOSPITAL STAFF AT THE APPROPRIATE LEVELS CAN +CONSCIOUSLY LOOK FOR WAYS TO REDUCE COSTS, SAVE MONEY, IMPROVE PERFORMANCE AND GIVE BETTER SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC+,
MR. CHEONG-LEEN HOPED THAT THE GOVERNMENT DENTAL SERVICE COULD BE EXPANDED SO THAT AT LEAST 50 PER CENT OF THE PATIENTS WERE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AT PRESENT MAKE UP ONLY 15 PER CENT OF PATIENTS AT GOVERNMENT DENTAL CLINICS, THE OTHER BEING CIVIL SERVANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN ALSO SUGGESTED THAT FOR THOSE WHO QUALIFIED FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD BE MADE TO REIMBURSE THEM WITH A PORTION OF THE EXPENSES INCURRED IN BUYING SPECTACLES AND OBTAINING PRIVATE DENTAL CARE.
TURNING TO EDUCATION, MR. CHEONG-LEEN ASKED FOR A STATEMENT BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY ON THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF FIVE YEARS OF POST-PRIMARY EDUCATION FOR ALL CHILDREN IN HONG KONG BY THE EARLY 1980'S.
ON THE QUESTION OF TAX ALLOWANCES, HE REITERATED THAT THE DEPENDENT PARENTS ALLOWANCE SHOULD BE REINSTATED.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR. CHEONG-LEEN CONTINUED, COULD REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF ABUSE BY REQUIRING THE DEPENDENT PARENT TO SIGN A STATUTORY DECLARATION DISAVOWING THE MORE COMMON ABUSES TO THE SCHEME.
/+AS GOVERNMENT