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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 1993
FOR WORKERS INFECTED WITH PNEUMOCONIOSIS, HE PROPOSED TO MAKE A $100 MILLION GRANT TO IMPROVE THE EX-GRATIA SCHEME FOR SUFFERERS DIAGNOSED BEFORE JANUARY 1, 1981. THIS WOULD BE IN PARALLEL WITH PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE STATUTORY SCHEME FOR THOSE DIAGNOSED AFTER JANUARY 1, 1981, TO BE FUNDED BY AN INCREASE IN THE LEVY. PRESENT BOTH CATEGORIES RECEIVE ONLY ONE-OFF PAYMENTS. IN FUTURE, THEY WILL RECEIVE REGULAR PAYMENTS.
AT
FOR WORKERS INJURED OR KILLED DURING ACCIDENTS AT
WORK, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY PROPOSED TO SET UP A NEW FUND TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE INTEREST-FREE LOANS TO EMPLOYEES INJURED AT WORK AND TO THE DEPENDANTS OF EMPLOYEES WHO DIE AS A RESULT OF WORK-RELATED ACCIDENTS. THE GOVERNMENT'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE FUND WILL BE $10 MILLION.
NORTH DISTRICT HOSPITAL
MR MACLEOD PROPOSED TO ALLOCATE APPROXIMATELY $1.1 BILLION AT TODAY'S PRICES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 600-BED HOSPITAL FOR NORTH DISTRICT TO BE COMPLETED BY 1997.
HEALTH CARE
MR MACLEOD PROPOSED TO MAKE A GRANT OF $50 MILLION TO THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY TO FUND A RESEARCH PROGRAMME TO ASSESS THE COST- EFFECTIVENESS OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND TREATMENT TECHNIQUES.
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"WE MUST ENSURE THAT EVERY DOLLAR WE SPEND ON HEALTH CARE IS USED TO THE BEST POSSIBLE EFFECT, HE SAID. "THAT IT IS NOT SPENT ON OVERHEADS BUT IS USED, AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, DIRECTLY TO BENEFIT THE PATIENT."
STRESSING THE GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING THE COMMUNITY'S HEALTH AND ITS MEDICAL CARE, HE NOTED THAT $17.2 BILLION WOULD BE SPENT IN THIS AREA IN 1993/94.
CLEANING UP THE HARBOUR
THE
MR MACLEOD PROPOSED TO ALLOCATE AN EXTRA $1.9 BILLION ON TOP OF $3 BILLION ANNOUNCED BY THE GOVERNOR LAST OCTOBER FOR SEWERAGE FACILITIES TO CLEAN UP THE HARBOUR. THIS WILL REDUCE CHARGES ΤΟ BE BORNE BY THE COMMUNITY. HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CARRY OUT A COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC CONSULTATION EXERCISE IN THE COMING MONTHS ON FAIR AND AFFORDABLE LEVELS OF CHARGING.
/SANDWICH CLASS