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WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1989
"IT WILL ALSO
CONSIDER
THE INTERFACE BETWEEN OUT-PATIENT SERVICES AND HOSPITAL IN-PATIENT CARE PROVIDED BY THE FUTURE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY, HE ADDED.
MR
CHAU NOTED THAT THE INTENTION ΤΟ ESTABLISH A HOSPITAL AUTHORITY WAS GENERALLY WELCOMED BY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WERE ALSO KEEN TO ENSURE THAT ADEQUATE PREPARATIONS WERE MADE TO ENABLE THE AUTHORITY TO GET OFF TO A GOOD START.
SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN OCTOBER 1988. THE PROVISIONAL HOSPITAL AUTHORITY HAD BEEN WORKING ENERGETICALLY TO MAKE PREPARATIONS FOR THE SETTING UP OF THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY ON APRIL
1990, HE SAID.
1+
"AS AN INDEPENDENT STATUTORY BODY, THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY WILL ENJOY A GOOD DEAL OF AUTONOMY AND FLEXIBILITY, WHICH IS NOT SO READILY AVAILABLE WITHIN THE EXISTING CIVIL SERVICE FRAMEWORK," MR CHAU SAID.
"THIS WILL HELP TO OPTIMISE THE UTILISATION OF HOSPITAL RESOURCES, AND TO ATTRACT AND TO RETAIN WITHIN THE PUBLIC SECTOR WELL- QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED MEDICAL STAFF," HE ADDED.
CONTINUED IMPORTANCE PLACED ON NEEDS OF ELDERLY
THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON T.H. CHAU, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) EMPHASISED THAT CONTINUED IMPORTANCE WAS BEING PLACED ON MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY WHO REPRESENTED A GROWING PROPORTION OF HONG KONG'S POPULATION.
SPEAKING IN THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR CHAU SAID EFFORTS WERE CONTINUING TO EXPAND AND ACCELERATE THE PROVISION OF PLACES IN BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND DAY CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY, AND THAT OVER THE NEXT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AT LEAST 1,000 CARE-AND-ATTENTION PLACES WERE EXPECTED ΤΟ BE PRODUCED ANNUALLY,
THE BENEFITS OF PROVIDING OUTREACHING SERVICES TO THE ELDERLY WOULD ALSO BE EXAMINED THROUGH TWO PILOT SCHEMES, THE DETAILS OF WHICH WERE BEING DRAWN UP IN CONSULTATION WITH THE VOLUNTARY WELFARE SECTOR, HE NOTED.
"THE PROVISION OF SERVICES SPECIFICALLY FOR THE ELDERLY ACCOUNTS FOR ALMOST 20 PER CENT OF THE SUBVENTION ALLOCATION FOR SOCIAL WELFARE.
"FURTHERMORE, NEARLY 70 PER cent oF THE TOTAL SOCIAL SECURITY BUDGET IS TARGETTED AT OUR SENIOR CITIZENS, MR CHAU SAID.
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HONG KONG