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Some Members may recall that the Administration addressed this matter in its 1993 consultation document "Towards Better Health". The Target Group Approach contained two counterbalanced proposals designed to be revenue-neutral and not increase public healthcare expenditure. The first was that elderly persons and persons in receipt of disability allowance should automatically receive a partial waiver of fees and more fee subsidy; the second was that patients with the ability to pay should pay more and receive less fee subsidy.
While the community supported the first half of the package, they were not prepared to accept the second part. Without both, the proposal could not work.
When the consultation document was debated in this Chamber on 13 October 1993, Members did not address this issue. It has surfaced again. If Members now support the Motion in favour of lower fees for elderly and handicapped patients, while maintaining that public spending on healthcare should be restrained, then to balance out the cost equation they must also support the idea of higher fees for others who have the ability to pay such fees.
Today's Motion Debate is a timely one. It brings into public focus the need to look at the important question of healthcare funding, not just for elderly and handicapped patients, but for all patients. At the same time, in the face of an ageing population, increasing healthcare costs and expectations for better public services, we must also address the balance between patients' and the community's contribution to public healthcare costs.
End
Motion on strengthening of civic education for youth
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Michael Suen, in the motion debate on strengthening of civic education for youth in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Mr President,
The Government has a clear, comprehensive and long-standing policy on civic education. Our objective is to promote the public's awareness, concern and involvement in public affairs, to foster understanding and respect for human rights and to cultivate a sense of belonging in Hong Kong so as to encourage everyone to participate and contribute in our society.