23
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31,
1993
"IN PROPOSING TO PUT UP $100 MILLION TO GIVE THEM ADDITIONAL AND LIFE-LONG COMPENSATION, THE GOVERNMENT IS MAKING A GENUINE EFFORT ΤΟ IMPROVE THE LOT OF THE PNEUMOCONTOTICS DIAGNOSED BEFORE 1981, HE ADDED.
ON THE PROPOSED SCHEME TO ASSIST VICTIMS OF WORK-RELATED ACCIDENTS, MR CHAN SAID JUDGING FROM PAST EXPERIENCE, THE PROPOSED INJECTION OF $10 MILLION SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT.
THE SCHEME IS TO PROVIDE INTEREST-FREE LOANS TO HELP THE VICTIMS TIDE OVER THEIR DIFFICULTIES WHILE WAITING FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE EMPLOYEES COMPENSATION THAT IS LEGALLY DUE TO THEM.
**WE EXPECT
REPAID AND THAT, REVOLVING NATURE.
BE
BE OF A
THAT, WITH VERY EXCEPTIONS, THESE LOANS WILL THEREFORE, THE FUND WILL ESSENTIALLY
MR CHAN ALSO NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD JUST COMPLETED AN INITIAL COLLATION OF THE PUBLIC RESPONSE TO THE CONSULTATION PAPER ON A COMMUNITY-WIDE RETIREMENT PROTECTION SYSTEM.
**WE WILL NOW BEGIN TO EXAMINE THAT RESPONSE IN DETAIL AND CONSIDER WHETHER AND HOW THE ORIGINAL PROPOSALS SHOULD BE MODIFIED.
TO
"WE SHALL WORK WITH ALL DUE DESPATCH AND WILL KEEP THE MANPOWER PANEL OF THIS COUNCIL INFORMED OF PROGRESS, HE SAID.
0
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HEALTH CARE SERVICES PRINCIPLE REAFFIRMED
IT HAS BEEN THE GOVERNMENT'S TIME-HONOURED POLICY SINCE 1974 THAT NO ONE SHOULD BE DENIED ADEQUATE MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR WANT OF MEANS, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, REITERATED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY),
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE APPROPRIATION BILL 1993, MRS WONG SAID WHILE THIS FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE REMAINED VALID, THERE WAS A NEED FOR A REVIEW OF THE HEALTH CARE FINANCING STRUCTURE AS BOTH THE MEDICAL COSTS AND PUBLIC EXPECTATIONS HAD INCREASED AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY BECAME MORE AFFLUENT.
"THIS IS NOT A QUESTION OF RAISING FEES, MRS WONG STRESSED.
"WHAT IS NEEDED IS A WHOLE NEW SYSTEM TO ENSURE THAT SUFFICIENT FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO MEET THE COMMUNITY'S EXPECTATIONS FOR BETTER SERVICE, WHILE ENSURING THAT FEBS AND COSTS REMAIN AFFORDABLE BOTH ΤΟ USERS AND TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE," SHE ADDED.
SHE SAID A CONSULTATION DOCUMENT WOULD BE PUT FORWARD TO THE LEGCO FOR CONSIDERATION SOON.
ON THE PROVISJON OF HOSPITAL FACILITIES IN NEW TERRITORIES KAST, THE SECRETARY SAID SHE INTENDED TO CONDUCT A FULL REVIEW IN TWO YEARS' TIME TO ASSESS THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL HOSPITAL FACILITIES TSEUNG KWAN O.
IN
/IN THE