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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1980
GOVERNMENT PROBES IMPLICATIONS OF EXTENDING MEDICAL CARE TO CHILDREN OF FEMALE OFFICERS
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THE GOVERNMENT IS STUDYING THE IMPLICATIONS OF EXTENDING MEDICAL CARE TO THE ESTIMATED 28 000 CHILDREN OF ITS 14 000 MARRIED WOMEN EMPLOYEES.
THIS WAS DISCLOSED BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE HON MARTIN ROWLANDS IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM DR THE HON HARRY FANG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY,
MR ROWLANDS POINTED OUT THAT MARRIED WOMEN OFFICERS AS A GENERAL RULE, DID NOT RECEIVE THE SAME FRINGE BENEFITS AS THE IR MALE COUNTERPARTS BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TO ADHERE TO THE GENERALLY ACCEPTED COMMUNITY VIEW IN THESE MATTERS, NAMELY THAT THE HUSBAND SHOULD BE THE PROVIDER.
HOWEVER, HE NOTED THAT COMMUNITY ATTITUDES WERE CHANGING AND A SUBSTANTIAL PROPORTION OF PRIVATE COMPANIES NOW PROVIDED MEDICAL BENEFITS FOR THE CHILDREN OF THEIR MARRIED WOMEN EMPLOYEES.
+I CAN ASSURE MEMBERS THAT WE ARE KEEPING THIS MATTER UNDER CLOSE STUDY. I MIGHT ADD THAT THE FRINGE BENEFITS OFFERED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO ITS WOMEN OFFICERS ARE STILL THOUGHT TO COMPARE FAVOURABLY WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, HE SAID.
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CHINESE TITLES FOR GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS
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THE DIRECTOR OF HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON JOHN WALDEN WILL LOOK INTO THE QUESTION OF WHETHER IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO CONSISTENTLY USE ONE OF THE TWO CHINESE CHARACTERS PRESENTLY USED FOR THE WORD *DEPARTMENT'.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON WONG LAM IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), MR WALDEN SAID THAT IF SUCH A CHANGE WOULD BE HELPFUL TO THE PUBLIC THE DEPARTMENT WOULD EXAMINE THE IMPLICATIONS OF INTRODUCING IT.
HE ALSO ADMITTED THAT THE CHINESE TITLES FOR GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WERE NOT COMPLETELY UNIFORM PARTICULARLY IN REGARD TO THE CHINESE CHARACTER USED TO TRANSLATE 'DEPARTMENT'.
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