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THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 1988
DR CITU SAID THAT SINCE 89 PER CENT OF IN PATIENT CASES WERE HANDLED BY PUBLIC HOSPITALS, THE OUTFLOW OF EXPERIENCED DOCTORS FROM THE PUBLIC SECTOR TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR WAS DEFINITELY NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE WHO MAINLY RELIED ON THE SERVICES OF PUBLIC HOSPITALS.
"HOW THE CREAM OF MEDICAL PERSONNEL IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS CAN BE RETAINED IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR DESERVES OUR SERIOUS CONSIDERATION, HE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT ALTHOUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY IN 1989 MIGHT HELP RETAIN DOCTORS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR,
THE QUESTION WAS: "HOW MANY OF OUR EXISTING EXPERIENCED MEDICAL PERSONNEL WILL LEAVE IN THE MEANTIME?"
'$10 BILLION SURPLUS NOT A GIFT BUT A DEPRIVATION'
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THE $10 BILLION SURPLUS IN THE 1987-88 FINANCIAL YEAR IS NOT A GIFT BUT A DEPRIVATION BECAUSE SUCH AN UNEXPECTED SURPLUS MEANS IN PRACTICE THAT TAXPAYERS ARE REQUIRED TO PAY TOO MUCH WHILE THR PUBLIC IN GENERAL HAVE BEEN GIVEN TOO LITTLE, THE HON MARTIN LEE SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. TODAY (THURSDAY).
SPEAKING DURING THE BUDGET DEBATE, MR LEE SAID THAT ΤΟ UNWARY PUBLIC, THE RECENT REVELATION TUAT THERE WOULD BE A BILLION SURPLUS SEEMED TO BE A WINDFALL.
THE $10
BUT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SHOULD NOT BE CONGRATULATED FOR IT: INSTEAD HE SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED BY 17.
THE PUBLIC OF HONG KONG SHOULD APPRECIATE THAT IT WAS NOT WINDFALL BUT A MI SCALCULATION.
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MR LEE SAID THAT WHILE THE GOVERNMENT PREACHED THE GOSPEL OF CAUTION, IT SHOULD BE REALISED THAT THERE COULD BE A DOWN-SIDE TO OVER CAUTION WHICH HAD RESULTED IN SUCH A HUGE SURPLUS,
"FOR INSTANCE, HOW CAN WE EXPECT OUR NEGOTIATING TEAM ON DEFENCE COSTS TO BE ABLE TO PERSUADE ITS COUNTERPART REPRESENTING THE UNITED KINGDOM GOVERNMENT THAT OUR CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE DEFENCE COFTS SHOULD DECREASE WHEN IT IS KNOWN THAT WE HAVE SUCH A LARGE AND UNEXPECTED WINDFALL? BF ASKED.
MR LEE SAID THAT HONG KONG SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO ANYTHING AT ALL TOWARDS THE DEFENCE COSTS BETWEEN NOW AND 1997.
PAY
THE DEFENCE