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TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1993
I THINK I'VE GOT TIME FOR THE LAST QUESTIONER AT THE TOP OF MY SHEET, MR MICHAEL HO.
MR MICHAEL HO:
MR GOVERNOR, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TALK ABOUT PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOOD. LAST MONTH I WROTE A LETTER TO YOU ASKING YOU TO HELP ON THE PROBLEM OF THE SHORTAGE OF NURSES. FROM THE REPLY I COULD SEE THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE A GOOD GRASP OF OUR PROBLEMS. ACTUALLY, IN MANY DIFFERENT DISTRICTS BECAUSE OF THE SHORTAGE OF NURSES MANY HOSPITALS CANNOT BE COMMISSIONED FULLY, LIKE THE TUEN MUN HOSPITAL, THAT'S A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE. THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, IN THIS COUNCIL, ADMITTED THE EXISTENCE OF THESE SORT OF PROBLEMS
IN ORDER TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, THAT INVOLVES POLICIES, TRAINING, CIVIL SERVANTS, AND FUNDING, THAT'S WHY I HOPE THAT YOU CAN CONSIDER SETTING UP AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORKING GROUP. SO ARE YOU PREPARED TO TACKLE THIS PROBLEM OF THE SHORTAGE OF NURSES? AS THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG, WHAT WILL YOU DO TO COPE WITH THIS PROBLEM?
1 WILL CERTAINLY LOOK AT THE ISSUE
THE GOVERNOR: AGAIN IF THE HONOURABLE MEMBER WAS DISSATISFIED WITH MY REPLY, BECAUSE OF COURSE HE IS RIGHT TO SAY THAT IT IS NOT ENOUGH MERELY TO PUT INVESTMENT IN NEW HOSPITALS OR CLINICS UNLESS ONE HAS ADEQUATE MEDICAL- PERSONNEL TO RUN THOSE UNITS SATISFACTORILY. WE ARE COMMITTED, FOR EXAMPLE, NEXT YEAR, IN PURSUIT OF OUR PLEDGES ON HOSPITAL BUILDING, TO PROVIDE, I THINK, ANOTHER 950 HOSPITAL BEDS. THAT WILL REQUIRE MORE NURSING SUPPORT, AS THE HONOURABLE MEMBER IS ENTITLED TO POINT OUT, SO IF THE HONOURABLE MEMBER DOESN'T THINK THAT WE ARE TAKING THE ISSUE SUFFICIENTLY SERIOUSLY, THAT IS SOMETHING WHICH MUST CONCERN ME AND I HOPE I CAN RESPOND MORE POSITIVELY TO THE HONOURABLE MEMBER THAN HE THINKS I HAVE RESPONDED SO FAR.
I AM MUCH OBLIGED TO THE COUNCIL.
I THINK THE COUNCIL PROBABLY KNOWS THAT THE PRIVY COUNCIL HAVE NOW APPROVED THE AMENDMENTS то THE LETTERS PATENT AND ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS WHICH ENABLE, OR WILL ENABLE IN DUE COURSE, THE COUNCIL TO DISPOSE OF MY SERVICES AS PRESIDENT AND ELECT ITS OWN PRESIDENT. THE ADMINISTRATION IS, I KNOW, WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE COUNCIL ON THE NECESSARY DRAFT STANDING ORDERS. I HOPE THOSE CAN BE AGREED BEFORE TOO LONG AND THAT IN DUE COURSE THESE SESSIONS WILL BE UNDER THE BENIGN AND INTELLIGENT CHAIRMANSHIP OF WHOEVER IT IS THAT YOU ELECT TO PRESIDE OVER YOUR MEETINGS.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH STANDING ORDERS I NOW ADJOURN THE COUNCIL UNTIL 2:30 PM ON WEDNESDAY, 13TH JANUARY 1993.
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