ZUREBAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1983
3
THIS WAS A COMPLEX ISSUE AND POSSIBLE WAYS OF PREVENTING ANY SERIOUS EROSION WERE BEING EXAMINED CAREFULLY.
+1 HOPE TO BE IN A POSITION TO ADDRESS THIS SUBJECT FURTHER AND TO PROPOSE MORE LASTING REFORMS IN THE BUDGET NEXT FEBRUARY,+ HE SAID.
DE BATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED TO NOVEMBER 23.
MEDICAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM REVIEW PLANNED
****
THE GOVERNMENT IS PLANNING TO REVIEW THE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OF HONG KONG'S MEDICAL SERVICES, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO HOSPITALS, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON HENRY CHING, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
AND +DETAILED PROPOSALS ARE BEING WORKED OUT FOR SUCH A REVIEW, WE SHALL OF COURSE NEED TO CONSIDER CAREFULLY WHETHER IT WOULD BE MORE COST-EFFECTIVELY CONDUCTED IN-HOUSE OR BY SUITABLE EXTERNAL CONSULTANTS, OR BY A COMBINATION OF THE TWO, HE SAID.
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR SIR EDWARD YOUDE'S ANNUAL ADDRESS, MR CHING TOUCHED ON POINTS RAISED EARL IER BY VARIOUS UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS.
MR CHING EXPRESSED GRATITUDE TO DR THE HON HARRY FANG, THE HON ALEX WU AND THE HON CHARLES YEUNG FOR ACKNOWLEDGING HONG KONG'S ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH FIELD.
+DESPITE OUR CROWDED CONDITIONS, AND THE DAILY COMINGS AND GOINGS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, HONG KONG REMAINS A REMARKABLY HEALTHY PLACE WHERE HIGH STANDARDS OF MEDICAL CARE ARE WITHIN THE REACH OF EVERYONE, HE SAID.
BUT HE AGREED WITH DR HARRY FANG THAT THE GOVERNMENT COULD NOT BE COMPLACENT AND STRESSED THAT THERE WAS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.
WHILE WELCOMING +CONSTRUCTIVE SUGGESTIONS+, MR CHING EXPRESSED DISAGREEMENT WITH DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP'S EARLIER ASSERTION THAT THE GOVERNMENT WHILE TRYING TO PROVIDE EVERY TYPE OF MEDICAL SERVICE FOR TOO MANY ... HAS ENDED UP BY NOT PROVIDING ENOUGH AND SATISFACTORILY FOR ANYONE+.
+THIS ILL-CONSIDERED REMARK IS PATENTLY NOT TRUE, AS THE MANY MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAVE BENEFITED FROM OUR HEAVILY SUBSIDISED MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES WILL BE QUICK TO CONFIRM, + HE SAID.
+THE GOVERNMENT'S AIM IS, AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN, TO PROVIDE TO THE BEST OF ITS ABILITY THE MÉDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES WHICH THE COMMUNITY REQUIRES. TO WITHDRAW ANY ONE OF THOSE SERVICES WOULD BE TO NEGLECT THOSE IN NEED OF THAT SERVICE, HE STRESSED.
/ON DR FANG'S