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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 1985
ANOTHER SUGGESTION MADE BY DR FANG WAS THAT PATIENTS SHOULD BE CHARGED A MODERATE SUM FOR ITEMS SUCH AS X-RAY, LABORATORY TESTS, PHYSIOTHERAPY TREATMENTS AND SURGICAL PROCEDURES CONDUCTED IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS.
+OF COURSE, THOSE PATIENTS WHO CANNOT AFFORD MAY HAVE THE FEES WAIVED OR REDUCED.
+THIS WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS CONTRIBUTING TO THE FUTURE EXPANSION OF OUR MEDICAL SERVICE AND ALLOWING NECESSARY INCREASES IN THE MEDICAL BUDGET,+ HE SAID,
COMMENTING ON PROPOSED TAXATION ON DUTIABLE COMMODITIES, DR FANG SAID HE WISHED TO SEEK CLARIFICATION FROM THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY THAT BESIDES MILK, PURE FRUIT JUICE AND DISTILLED WATER, OTHER HEALTH DRINKS SUCH AS SOYA BEAN MILK WERE EXEMPTED FROM TAX.
HE SAID HE SUPPORTED THE REPRESENTATION BY THE HONG KONG SOYA BEAN PRODUCTS CO LTD TO UMELCO THAT ITS PURE SOYA BEAN MILK PRODUCT SHOULD BE CLASSIFIED UNDER FOOD AND MILK AND NOT UNDER NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.
+EVEN WHEN TABLE WATERS WERE SUBJECTED TO DUTY PRIOR TO 1973, SOYA BEAN MILK WAS NOT TAXED.
+ IN RE-INTRODUCING THE TAX ON NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES THIS YEAR I THINK SOYA BEAN MILK SHOULD CONTINUE TO ENJOY EXEMPTION AS IT CLEARLY IS A HEALTH ITEM RATHER THAN A 'PLEASING INDULGENCE',+ DR FANG SAID.
HE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THERE SHOULD ALWAYS BE A DISTINCT DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN THE PRICES OF SOFT DRINKS AND THAT OF BEER SO THAT GOVERNMENT WAS NOT SEEN TO BE ENCOURAGING THE YOUNG INTO OPTING FOR THE STRONGER DRINK CONTAINING ALCOHOL.
ON COSMETICS, HE HOPED THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY COULD DRAW A CLEAR LINE BETWEEN LUXURY ITEMS AND ITEMS WHICH WERE FOR HYGIENE AND THERAPEUTIC PURPOSES SUCH AS SOAP, SKIN LOTION OR CREAM, ADDING THAT THE LATTER SHOULD BE EXEMPTED FROM TAX.
ON THE CIVIL SERVICE, DR FANG RECOGNISED THE NEED TO RESTRAIN THE SIZE OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE BUT HE SAID IT WAS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL THAT THOSE IN THE SERVICE WERE PROPERLY AND ADEQUATELY REMUNERATED AND THEIR PENSION SCHEMES REASSURED IF WE WERE TO HAVE CONTINUED STABILITY AND PROSPERITY IN HONG KONG FOR THE NEXT 62 YEARS AND BEYOND.
+I WISH TO SUGGEST THAT THE GOVERNMENT ISSUE AN ANNUAL STATEMENT OF ACCUMULATED PENSION TO ALL ELIGIBLE OFFICERS SIMILAR TO THE EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS ON THE WIDOWS AND CHILDREN PENSION SCHEME, HE SAID.
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