WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1992
"THE FORCE CONTINUES TO BE ABLE TO PUT EXTRA POLICEMEN ONTO THE STREETS,' HE ADDED.
IN LINE WITH THIS POLICY, A MAXIMUM OF 850 AUXILIARY POLICE OFFICERS EACH DAY ARE DEPLOYED TO VARIOUS POLICE FORMATIONS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY TO COMPLEMENT REGULAR POLICE PATROLS AND OPERATIONS.
"DEPLOYMENT IS CONCENTRATED IN AREAS MORE PRONE TO CRIME, MR
ASPREY SAID.
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF REPORTED CRIME CASES IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES WAS 14,160 IN 1990, 13,327 IN 1991 AND 5,867 IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS THIS YEAR.
THESE COMPARE WITH THE TERRITORIAL TOTALS OF 88,300 IN 1990, 88,659 IN 1991 AND 40,621 IN THE FIRST HALF-YEAR OF THIS YEAR.
NOTING THAT ABOUT HALF OF THE TOTAL POPULATION IN HONG KONG RESIDES IN PUBLIC HOUSING, MR ASPREY SAID THE RATIO WAS NOT REFLECTED IN THE NUMBER OF CRIMES REPORTED TO THE POLICE.
COMPLAINTS AGAINST PUBLIC HOSPITALS AND DOCTORS CLOSELY MONITORED
* *
COMPLAINTS LODGED BY PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ON PUBLIC HOSPITALS AND DOCTORS ARE DEALT WITH AT SEVERAL LEVELS, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON EMILY LAU WAI-HING, MRS WONG SAID AT THE HOSPITAL LEVEL, PUBLIC COMPLAINTS WERE HANDLED BY THE HOSPITAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE OR MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT WHO WERE ASSISTED BY A PATIENT RELATIONS OFFICER.
AT THE HEAD OFFICE LEVEL, APPEAL CASES AND REFERRALS FROM OMELCO OR THE COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINTS ARE HANDLED BY A PUBLIC COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE SET UP UNDER THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY BOARD.
THIS COMMITTEE IS CHAIRED BY A CIVILIAN AND COMPRISING NON-OFFICIALS.
MAINLY
ITS MEMBERSHIP HAS RECENTLY BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE TWO MEMBERS OUTSIDE THE KOSPITAL AUTHORITY BOARD TO ENSURE THAT COMPLAINTS ARE INVESTIGATED IN AN OPEN AND OBJECTIVE MANNER.
MRS WONG SAID THE TRENDS OF COMPLAINTS RELATING ΤΟ INDIVIDUAL HOSPITALS OR SPECIALTIES WOULD BE MONITORED BY THE PATIENT AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE COMPRISING A MAJORITY OFFICIALS SO AS TO DETECT ANY UNDERLYING PROBLEMS.
OF NON-
/THE HEALTH