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THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 1989
IN MATTERS OF POLICY, AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE, WHICH AFFECT THE LIVELIHOOD OF OUR CITIZENS, A RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT SHOULD RE-EXAMINE THE OVERALL ROLE OF THE ONTA IN IMPROVING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT," HE SAID.
THE
ON THE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE ISSUE, HE OBSERVED THAT FROM VERY ONSET HONG KONG HAD BEEN UNFAIRLY AND UNEQUALLY TREATED BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY; IN PARTICULAR, IN RESPECT OF THE FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION BY UNHCR TO OUR ASIAN NEIGHBOURS WHO PROVIDED CENTRES FOR VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE.
"MALAYSIA AND THAILAND HAVE RECEIVED TOTAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE RUNNING OF THEIR CENTRES. INCLUDING THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS; HOWEVER, HONG KONG IS ONLY PARTIALLY REIMBURSED FOR THE PROVISION OF SUCH SERVICES," HE NOTED. ADDING THAT THIS AREA MUST BE LOOKED INTO.
ANOTHER ADVERSE CONSEQUENCE OF THE CONTINUAL INFLUX OF THE BOAT PEOPLE WAS THAT OUR SOCIETY WAS DEPRIVED OF THE SERVICE OF OUR DISCIPLINARY FORCES DESPITE A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN THEIR NUMBERS. THIS WAS BECAUSE MANPOWER HAD BEEN DIVERTED AS A RESULT OF THE GROWING NUMBER OF BOAT PEOPLE NOW STRANDED IN HONG KONG.
MR TAI THEREFORE CALLED FOR A SOLUTION TO STOP THE INFLUX.
IN REGARD TO THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S TAXATION PROPOSALS HE WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT MORE CONCESSIONS AND GREATER CONSIDERATION WAS NOT GIVEN TO THOSE IN THE LOWER INCOME GROUP, INCREASING THEIR MARRIAGE AND CHILD ALLOWANCES, AS WELL AS ALLOWANCES FOR THE ELDERLY.
"THE VERY SMALL INCREASE IN THE TAXATION THRESHOLD WAS ALSO A GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT TO OUR LOWER WAGE EARNERS. ESPECIALLY IN VIEW
OF THE PRESENT INCREASE IN INFLATION," HE REMARKED.
ON HEALTH SERVICE, MR TA I BELIEVE1) THAT THE NINE PER CENT INCREASE IN REVENUE WOULD BE LARGELY SWALLOWED UP BY AN INCREASE IN PAY, AND THE INCREASE IN THE COST OF MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND MEDICINE DUE TO INFLATION.
OUR
HE REGRETTED THAT LITTLE HAD BEEN DONE ΤΟ IMPROVE EQUIPMENT, WORKING ENVIRONMENT; OR TO RESOLVE THE MANY PROBLEMS NOW FACED BY MEDICAL STAFF.
NOTING THAT MOST FIRST-CLASS BEDS IN OUR PUBLIC HOSPITALS, FREE DENTAL SERVICES, WERE AVAILABLE ONLY TO CIVIL SERVANTS, HE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO LOOK AT' THE POSSIBILITY
OF OF SOME DEGREE REIMBURSEMENT BY THE CIVIL SERVICE WHEN
HOSPITAL
WAS AUTHORITY
SET UP.
AND
THE
HE ALSO SUGGESTED SETTING ASIDE SOME FUNDS TO CATER FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT IN THE QUALITY OF OUR HEALTH SERVICE OVER THE NEXT DECADE, TOGETHER WITH A NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAMME WHICH COULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE RUNNING AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS.
AN ALTHOUGH THE SCHEME WOULD INVOLVE
INITIAL OUTLAY MR ΤΑΙ
WAS BELIEVED THAT IT
A FAIRER CONTRIBUTORY SYSTEM AND WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO THE MIDDLE INCOME GROUP IN PARTICULAR, WHO
WILLING ARE
FOR TO PAY MORE
THEIR MEDICAL SERVICES. RUT CANNOT AFFORD SUCH SERVICES AS ARE NOW BEING OFFERED BY THE PRIVATE HOSPITALS.
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