XN000022-1975-05-21 — Page 12

11

WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 1975

IN A SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION, MR. LOBO ASKED WHETHER, IN THE INTERIM, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD TAKE STEPS TO CONTROL EX- CESSIVE NOISE CAUSED BY THE LARGE NUMBER OF MOTORCYCLES ON HIRE.

MR. ROBSON REPLIED: +SIR, MY INQUIRIES SHOW THAT IT IS QUITE TRUE THERE ARE VERY LARGE NUMBERS OF MOTORCYCLES HIRED OUT ON A DAILY BASIS. AS FAR AS I AM AWARE, THESE CAUSE NO GREATER NOISE THAN THE OTHERS. NEVERTHELESS, THERE IS OBVIOUS MERIT IN APPROACHING PEOPLE WHO HIRE OUT MOTORCYCLES POINTING OUT THE LAW RELATING TO EXCESSIVE NOISE AND SEEKING THEIR CO- OPERATION IN REDUCING NOISE LEVELS. I WOULD ASK THE DIRECTOR OF TRAFFIC TO DO THIS.

+IN THE MEANTIME, OF COURSE, ANY HIRE VEHICLE MAKING A NOISE WILL BE CALLED IN JUST THE SAME AS OTHER VEHICLES.+

MR. LOBO THEN ASKED WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ENCOURAGE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND MOTORISTS TO REPORT THE REGISTRATION NUMBERS OF NOISY VEHICLES SO THAT THEY CAN BE BROUGHT IN FOR EXAMINATION.

MR. ROBSON REPLIED: +1 ATTEMPT TO DO SO, SIR.+

-

NO CHANGE IN SUBVENTION POLICY FOR MARYKNOLL HOSPITAL

******

THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. THE HON. GERALD CHOA, TODAY RULED OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF SUBVENTING PRIVATE HOSPITAL SERVICES NOT CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG

ABOUT A POSSIBLE REVISION OF SUBVENTION RULES AND POLICY IN RESPECT OF THE MARYKNOLL HOSPITAL, DR. CHOA SAID THE GOVERNMENT 'S POLICY OF NOT SUBVENTING SUCH SERVICES WAS APPLIED TO OTHER INSTITUTIONS SUBVENTED ON A DISCRETIONARY GRANT AND AN EXEMPTION TO MARYKNOLL HOSPITAL COULD NOT BE JUSTIFIED.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE HOPSITAL ALREADY RECEIVED A DISCRETIONARY SUBVENTION IN RESPECT OF THOSE SERVICES WHICH ARE REGARDED AS BEING IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

+ON THIS BASIS THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDES THREE-QUARTERS OF THE COST OF 220 ACUTE BEDS AT A COST CEILING OF $30,000 PER YEAR. THIS CEILING IS AMONG THE HIGHEST OF THE HOSPITALS SUBVENTED IN THIS WAY, HE SAID.

DR. CHOA ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE TOTAL SUBVENTION FOR THE MARYKNOLL HOSPITAL FOR 1975/76 AMOUNTED TO $5,041,000 WHICH INCLUDED A REFUND OF RATES.

REGARDE

THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE HOSPITAL AND NOT REGARDED BY THE GOVERNMENT AS BEING IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR ARE: THE OUT-PATIENTS CLINICS, 42 PRIVATE AND MATERNITY BEDS, A SCHOOL FOR ENROLLED NURSES AND THE COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE.

/12

·