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WEDNESDYA, MAY 10, 1989
PILOT PROJECTS IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS FOR MIDDLE-INCOME GROUP
THE
CLASS
GOVERNMENT PLANS TO INTRODUCE A LIMITED NUMBER OF B BEDS IN A FEW PILOT PROJECTS IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS FOR THE MIDDLE-INCOME GROUP, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON T.H. CHAU, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY),
SPEAKING IN THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE, MR CHAU SAID OCCUPYING THIS NEW CATEGORY OF BED WOULD COST SOMEWHAT MORE, BUT PATIENTS WOULD ENJOY MORE PRIVACY AND A BETTER ENVIRONMENT, ALTHOUGH THE SAME STANDARD OF MEDICAL TREATMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO APPLY ΤΟ ALL CATEGORIES OF PATIENTS.
"CARE WILL BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SCHEME WILL NOT BE AT THE EXPENSE OF THIRD CLASS BEDS," MR CHAU ADDED.
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REGARDING A SUGGESTION TO PROVIDE FREE MEDICAL SERVICES TO THE ELDERLY, MR CHAU POINTED OUT THAT PUBLIC MEDICAL SERVICES IN HONG KONG WERE HEAVILY SUBSIDISED AND THE CHARGES LEVIED WERE VERY LOW AND COULD EASILY BE AFFORDED.
"THE MAJORITY OF THE LOCAL POPULATION, INCLUDING OUR SENIOR CITIZENS, SHOULD HAVE LITTLE DIFFICULTY IN PAYING THE CHARGES, AND THERE SEEMS TO BE NO REASON FOR NOT LEVYING THESE CHARGES ON THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD THEM, HE SAID.
*
"ANYONE WHO IS IN GENUINE HARDSHIP CAN HAVE THESE CHARGES WAIVED. HE ADDED.
H
OF
MR CHAU EXPLAINED THAT THE PRESENT DEFINITION OF NON-ENTITLED PERSONS WAS DESIGNED MAINLY TO STOP RESIDENTS OF NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES FROM COMING TO HONG KONG SPECIFICALLY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE THE MORE ADVANCED AND HEAVILY SUBSIDISED TREATMENT AND FACILITIES PUBLIC HOSPITALS.
IN
REGARDING THE PROPOSAL TO EXTEND THE CONCEPT OF NON-ENTITLED PERSONS TO INCLUDE IMPORTED WORKERS, MR CHAU SAID THAT WE SHOULD BEAR IN MIND THAT OUR IMMIGRATION LAWS REQUIRED THAT IT MUST BE DEMONSTRATED THAT A SUITABLE LOCAL CANDIDATE WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO FILL THE POST FOR WHICH A FOREIGN WORKER IS PROPOSED.
**THUS, IN THAT SENSE, THE FOREIGN WORKERS CONTRIBUTE TO THE
ECONOMY IN WAYS FOR WHICH LOCAL MANPOWER IS INSUFFICIENT, AND THEY ARE SUBJECT ΤΟ THE SAME LAWS AND OBLIGATIONS INCLUDING TAXATION LAW AS OTHER HONG KONG RESIDENTS.
"IN
THESE CIRCUMSTANCES,
PUBLIC MEDICAL FACILITIES ON RESIDENTS, HE ADDED.
H
I DOUBT WHETHER WE SHOULD DENY THEM THE SAME TERMS AS OTHER HONG KONG
/RESPONDING TO
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