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WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 1990
BILL TO GIVE HA POWERS TO MANAGE HOSPITAL SYSTEM EFFECTIVELY
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THE PROVISIONS OF THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY BILL 1990 WILL GIVE THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY SUFFICIENT POWERS ΤΟ MANAGE THE PUBLIC HOSPITAL SYSTEM EFFECTIVELY, WHILE SAFEGUARDING THE WIDER PUBLIC INTEREST, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON ELIZABETH WONG, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MRS WONG SAID THAT THE PRESENT CONCEPT OF A HOSPITAL AUTHORITY HAD EVOLVED OVER SEVERAL YEARS OF CAREFUL DELIBERATION AND IT WAS DESIGNED TO BRING SEVERAL BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY.
"FIRST, IT WILL BRING THE GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED TOGETHER WITHIN AN INTEGRATED PUBLIC HOSPITAL SYSTEM, AUTHORITY WILL OFFER COMMON TERMS OF SERVICE TO ITS STAFF.
HOSPITALS AND THE
"THE SECOND BENEFIT IS THAT BY BEING ESTABLISHED OUTSIDE THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE AUTHORITY WILL BE BETTER PLACED TO DEMONSTRATE FLEXIBILITY AND TO RESPOND QUICKLY TO CHANGING DEMANDS.
"THIRD, THERE WILL BE MORE EFFECTIVE AND ACCOUNTABLE HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT, WITH GREATER DEVOLUTION OF AUTHORITY FROM THE CENTRAL TO THE OPERATIONAL LEVELS.
"FINALLY, COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN THE PROVISION AND OPERATION OF PUBLIC HOSPITAL SERVICES WILL BE ENHANCED, MRS WONG SAID.
SHE POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS NOT ENVISAGED THAT THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY WOULD ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF PUBLIC HOSPITALS IMMEDIATELY UPON THE ENACTMENT OF THE BILL, SINCE THE GOVERNMENT WAS UNLIKELY BY THEN ΤΟ HAVE COMPLETED ALL OF THE ESSENTIAL PREPARATORY WORK, SUCH AS THE DETAILED NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE SUBVENTED HOSPITAL BOARDS ON THE INTEGRATION PROCESS, CONSULTATIONS WITH STAFF ON ASPECTS OF THE PHA'S REPORT WHICH DIRECTLY AFFECTED THEM, THE APPOINTMENT AND TRAINING OF KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL, AND THE SETTING UP OF VARIOUS COMPUTER SYSTEMS FOR PAYROLL, AND SO ON.
"THEREFORE, CLAUSE 1(2) PROVIDES THAT THE GOVERNOR MAY APPOINT DIFFERENT DAYS FOR THE COMING INTO OPERATION OF DIFFERENT PROVISIONS OF THE BILL.
"DURING THE INTERIM PERIOD, THE HOSPITAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PUBLIC HOSPITALS, MRS WONG SAID.
MRS WONG POINTED OUT THAT THE BILL PROVIDED FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY AS A BODY CORPORATE, WITH ITS MEMBERS AS THE GOVERNING BODY.
THE AUTHORITY WILL CONSIST OF NOT MORE THAN 31 MEMBERS, INCLUDING THE CHAIRMAN, APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.
/THE BILL