12
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 1993
COMMITMENT TO AIRPORT MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING STRESSED
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THE BRITISH AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENTS HAVE MADE PLAIN THAT THEY REMAIN COMMITTED TO THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING CONCERNING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW AIRPORT IN HONG KONG, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS, MR PETER LAI, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN ACCORDANCE WITH CLAUSE G OF THE MEMORANDUM SIGNED ON SEPTEMBER 3, 1991, THE BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY MET THE CHINESE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN SEPTEMBER 1991, MARCII 1992 AND SEPTEMBER 1992.
ALSO, THE GOVERNOR MET THE DIRECTOR OF THE HONG KONG AND MACAU AFFAIRS OFFICE UNDER THE STATE COUNCIL IN SEPTEMBER 1991, AND JANUARY, JUNE AND OCTOBER 1992.
REPLYING ΤΟ A QUESTION BY THE HON CHIM PUI-CHUNG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR LAI SAID: "ARRANGEMENTS FOR ANY SUCH MEETINGS IN FUTURE WILL, AS IN THE PAST, BE MADE KNOWN TO HONG KONG."
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0
THE
PROVISION OF MATERNITY SERVICE TO NON-HK RESIDENTS QUERIED
A
TOLD
THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT 529 (OR 9.7%) OF THE 5,454 BABIES DELIVERED IN TUEN MUN HOSPITAL AND 1,206 (15.2%) OF THE 7,939 BABIES DELIVERED IN PRINCE OF WALES HOSPITAL LAST YEAR WERE BORN OF WOMEN WHO HAD ENTERED HONG KONG EITHER ON CHINESE TWO-WAY EXIT PERMITS OR ILLEGALLY.
AND FOR THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, 254 (14.6%) OF THE 1,740 BABIES DELIVERED IN TUEN MUN HOSPITAL AND 459 (18.9%) OF
2,428 BABIES IN PRINCE OF WALES HOSPITAL WERE BORN BY THIS CATEGORY OF WOMEN.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MICHAEL HO, MRS WONG SAID THE QUALITY OF CARE FOR OTHER PATIENTS AT THESE TWO HOSPITALS WAS NOT AFFECTED AS THE PROVISION OF MATERNITY SERVICE TO THE CHINESE PERMIT HOLDERS AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS HAD BEEN MADE FROM EXISTING RESOURCES THROUGH EFFICIENT DEPLOYMENT OF MANPOWER AND PRODUCTIVITY.
KONG
UNDER THE CURRENT POLICY, PATIENTS WHO DO NOT HOLD A HONG IDENTITY CARD OR A BRITISH PASSPORT ARE CLASSIFIED
AS NON-ENTITLED PERSONS AND CHARGED THE FULL COSTS OF THEIR MEDICAL TREATMENT.
"HOWEVER,
TWO-WAY PERMIT HOLDERS WHOSE SPOUSES ARE HOLDERS HONG KONG IDENTITY CARDS AND WHO CAN PRODUCE A MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY A COMPETENT AUTHORITY ARE TREATED AS ENTITLED PERSONS, WONG SAID.
OF
MRS
/"ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS