XN000022-1980-03-27 — Page 12

THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 1980

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+FURTHER DELAY WILL ADD TO THE COST, LOSE THE ADVANTAGE OF A PROVEN EXISTING DEVELOPMENT TEAM, AND DEFER THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ADVANTAGE THAT THE SYSTEM WILL BRING, MR NEWBIGGING ADDED.

REFERRING TO THE BUDGET ITSELF, MR NEWBIGGING SAID THAT, ALTHOUGH HARD TO FAULT, IT IS ONE WHICH RUNS THE RISK OF STIMULATING FURTHER DOMESTIC INFLATION - HONG KONG'S EVER-THREATENING PUBLIC ENEMY NO 1 - IN ADDITION TO THE IMPORTED VARIETY.

-

HE SAID HE WOULD AGREE WITH THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY THAT +THIS DANGER IS ONE THAT WE MUST ACCEPT BUT WITHIN DISCIPLINED

IMITS - IN ORDER TO DEAL WITH OUR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPERATIVES+.

MEDICAL FACILITIES IN PUBLIC SECTOR

NEED UPGRADING

****

THE GOVERNMENT WAS ASKED TODAY BY THE REY THE HON JOYCE BENNETT TO UPGRADE THE MEDICAL PROVISION IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR AS IT DID TO THE EDUCATION SYSTEM.

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE THIS AFTERNOON, MISS BENNETT SAID IN THE EDUCATIONAL FIELD THE SCHOOLS' SITUATION WAS NOW MUCH HEALTHIER SINCE THERE WERE NOW TO BE NO SECOND-CLASS AIDED SCHOOLS. STAFF AND STUDENTS WILL BOTH BENEFIT FROM THIS- OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AS A WHOLE WILL REAP THE REWARDS OF THIS NEW APPROACH. +

HOWEVER SHE SAID OUR PRESENT HOSPITALS LEFT MUCH TO BE DESIRED- OUR MEDICAL FACILITIES ARE AS YET INADEQUATE AND SHE RECOGNISED THAT THERE WERE VERY GOOD PLANS FOR IMPROVING THEM.

MISS BENNETT SAID ONE VITAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SUBVENTED HOSPITALS AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS WAS IN STAFF RECRUITMENT.

WHILE AIDED SCHOOLS CAN EASILY FIND SUITABLE TEACHERS, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO OFFER PENSIONS, HOUSING, MEDICAL BENEFITS OR EDUCATIONAL ALLOWANCES, THE HOSPITALS CANNOT FIND ENOUGH DOCTORS, ANAESTHETISTS, NURSE TUTORS, PHYSIOTHERAPISTS AND MANY OTHERS IN THE PARA-MEDICAL FIELD, SHE SAID. NEITHER ARE THERE ENOUGH TRAINED SOCIAL WORKERS, SHE ADDED.

SHE LEARNED, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT THERE ARE ONLY TWO CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS IN THE WHOLE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT FOR ITS PROBATION SERVICE, FAMILY SERVICE UNITS, AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF INSTITUTIONS,

SHE ASKED FOR UNDERSTANDING OF THE DIFFICULTY FACED BY SUBVENTED HOSPITALS AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WHICH LOSE STAFF TO GOVERNMENT AND OTHER AGENCIES WHICH CAN PROVIDE MORE HOUSING OR OTHER FRINGE BENEFITS, OR TO INSTITUTIONS IN MORE CENTRALLY LOCATED AREAS OR WITH LIGHTER PATIENT LOAD.

MISS BENNETT