THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1983
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+THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE FOR SERVICES IN WHICH PATIENTS CAN AFFORD TO PAY MORE THAN THE SO-CALLED FULL COST, DR IP SAID.
IN HER VIEW, THERE WAS NO EXCUSE FOR NOT REVIEWING CHARGES AFTER THE COSTING HAD BEEN DONE, EXCEPT WHERE THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY WAS NOT TO CHARGE THE FULL COST.
→I HAVE FOUND 25 EXAMPLES IN WHICH THE FEES CHARGED TODAY ARE BASED ON 1972 COSTINGS DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE SERVICES WERE RECOSTED AS RECENTLY AS 1981, SHE SAID.
SHE URGED THAT A COSTING SYSTEM, EASY TO REVIEW, PRACTICAL TO IMPLEMENT, AND FINANCIALLY REWARDING IN THE OUTCOME, BE WORKED OUT BETWEEN SENIOR AND JUNIOR DOCTORS, AND ADMINISTRATORS AND ECONOMISTS.
SHE ALSO ASKED WHETHER MORE BEDS IN OVERSUBSCRIBED PRIVATE WARDS IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS COULD HELP MAKE THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICE MORE COST EFFECTIVE SO THAT IT COULD IN TURN REDRESS ITS DEFICIENCIES IN SERVING THE POOR AND THE UNDERPRIVILEGED WITHOUT THE NEED TO INCREASE TAX.
TURNING TO SEPARATE TAXATION FOR MARRIED WOMEN, DR IP SAID THERE WAS A VITAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FAMILY WHERE ONLY ONE MEMBER NEEDED TO WORK AND ANOTHER WHERE BOTH HUSBAND AND WIFE HAD TO WORK TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
+ IN THE LATTER, WE HAVE TWO CONTRIBUTORY INDIVIDUALS TO SOCIETY'S WORK FORCE AND THE FAMILY'S POSSIBLE HUMAN RESOURCES ARE ALREADY MAXIMISED TO THE FULL, WITH NO FURTHER POTENTIAL TO OBTAIN OTHER CHANNELS FOR FINANCIAL REWARD, SHE POINTED OUT.
SHE FELT THAT A MARRIED WOMAN SHOULD BE GIVEN THE RIGHT TO ELECT FOR SEPARATE TAXATION.
+ IF THE UNITED KINGDOM, THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA AND SWEDEN ALLOW MARRIED WOMEN SEPARATE TAXATION AS INDIVIDUALS, I CAN'T SEE HOW HONG KONG CAN ESCAPE IT EVENTUALLY, DR IP SAID.
GOVERNMENT TOLD TO SCRAP FLATTED FACTORY PROGRAMME
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THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD STOP ALL PLANS FOR GOVERNMENT FLATTED FACTORY BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION ALREADY STARTED BUT IN A FAIRLY EARLY STAGE SHOULD ALSO BE TERMINATED, THE HON F.K. HU TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY).
+ IT WILL BE FAR BETTER TO WRITE OFF ABORTIVE WORK AND UTILISE THE SITES FOR OTHER USEFUL PURPOSE, HE SAID.
MR HỤ NOTED THAT UNDER THE FLATTED FACTORY PROGRAMMES, THE ESTIMATE IN 1983-84 WAS $107 MILLION.
'SUT
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