XN000022-1974-10-16 — Page 28

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1974.

GOVERNMENT CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED FOR FAMILY PLANNING

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS AN OPEN MIND ON PROPOSALS FOR FISCAL AND OTHER MEANS TO DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM RAISING LARGE FAMILIES, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TOLD THE OPENING SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HOWEVER, HE FELT THAT SUCH A COURSE SHOULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED AFTER THE RESULTS OF OTHER ACTION TO SECURE OUR ENDS BY EDUCATIONAL AND VOLUNTARY MEANS CAN BE SEEN.

SIR MURRAY SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS VERY WELL AWARE OF THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF EXCESSIVE POPULATION GROWTH IN HONG KONG, AND ITS FIRST OBJECTIVE HAD BEEN TO SEE THAT THERE WERE ENOUGH FAMILY PLANNING CLINICS CONVENIENTLY AVAILABLE TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

+ONCE WE HAVE REACHED THAT POINT, AND WE ARE GETTING NEAR IT, WE WILL BE IN A POSITION TO CONCENTRATE ON BRINGING HOME TO THE PUBLIC THE BENEFITS TO BE DERIVED FROM USING THESE CLINICS.+

THE INTEGRATION OF FAMILY PLANNING SERVICE INTO THE GOVERNMENT'S MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH PROGRAMME, HE SAID, HAD MADE EXCELLENT PROGRESS.

BY THE END OF THE YEAR, FAMILY PLANNING SERVICE WILL BE OFFERED IN 37 GOVERNMENT CLINICS AND 32 CLINICS MANNED BY THE FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION AND THIS COVERAGE WILL BE FURTHER EXTENDED NEXT YEAR.

THE GOVERNOR SAID: THE WORK OF FAMILY PLANNING IS OBVIOUSLY VITAL IF OUR PLANS FOR IMPROVEMENT IN STANDARS OF LIFE ARE TO HAVE THE EFFECT INTENDED. SO TOO IS THE LEVEL OF IMMIGRATION.+

HONG KONG'S NET GAIN BY MIGRATION LAST YEAR, HE SAID, WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN OVER 60,000 OF WHOM THE BULK CAME FROM CHINA EITHER LEGALLY OR ILLEGALLY.

+THOUGH THE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT DOWN SUBSTANTIALLY FROM THE HIGH LEVEL OF SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR, THEY REMAIN TOO HIGH, AND DISCUSSION OF THIS MUTUAL PROBLEM WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT CONTINUES.+

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