WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1993
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NO CHANGE TO MEDICAL FEE STRUCTURE
THERE IS LITTLE JUSTIFICATION TO CHANGE THE PRESENT FEE CHARGING POLICY FOR SERVICES AT PUBLIC HOSPITALS AND CLINICS WITHOUT A THOROUGH OVERHAUL, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THE
"AS THE EXISTING FEE STRUCTURE OF OUR MEDICAL SYSTEM IS ONE OF THE KEY ISSUBS WHICH WE WILL ADDRESS IN THE CONTEXT OF CONSULTATION DOCUMENT 'TOWARDS BETTER HEALTH', WE WILL ASSESS THE NEED FOR CHANGE IN THE CONSULTATION EXERCISE, SHE SAID.
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON LEONG CHE-HUNG, MRS WONG SAID THE PRESENT FEE CHARGING POLICY RECOGNISED DIRECT FAMILY TIES AS A MAJOR FACTOR IN DETERMINING THE ELIGIBILITY FOR SUBSIDISED MEDICAL TREATMENT.
AT PRESENT, THE SPOUSE OF A HOLDER OF HONG KONG IDENTITY CARD WHO COULD PRODUCE A MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY A COMPETENT AUTHORITY WAS CHARGED FEES ON THE BASIS OF AN ENTITLED PERSON.
THIS APPLIES WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION TO ALL FOREIGN NATIONALS MARRIED TO HONG KONG RESIDENTS.
THOSE WHO DO NOT SATISFY THIS CRITERION ARE CLASSIFIED AS ENTITLED PERSONS AND ARE REQUIRED TO PAY THE FULL COSTS OF MEDICAL TREATMENT.
NON-
THEIR
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ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION CONVENTIONS RATIFIED BY UK
OF
THE UNITED KINGDOM IS A CONTRACTING PARTY то A NUMBER INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS AND AGREEMENTS ON ENVIRONMENT CONSERVATION AND ITS RATIFICATION FOR THEM HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO HONG KONG.
AND
THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT LANDS, MR TONY EASON, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN A WRITTEN REPLY ΤΟ A QUESTION BY THE HON MAN SAI-CHEONG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
THESE AGREENENTS AND CONVENTIONS ARE THE CONVENTION ON THE CONSERVATION OF MIGRATORY SPECIES OF WILD ANIMALS (BONN CONVENTION) + THE CONVENTION ON WETLANDS OF INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE ESPECIALLY AS WATERFOWL HABITAT (RAMSAR CONVENTION), THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN
ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA, THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL ON SUBSTANCES THAT DEPLETE THE OZONE LAYER AND THE LONDON CONVENTION.
MR EASON SAID BRITAIN DID NOT MAKE ANY PLEDGE ON BEHALF OF HONG KONG FOR THE FULFILMENT OF COMMITMENTS IN FUTURE AT THE EARTH SUMMIT.
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