XN000022-1981-05-20 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, HAY 20, 1981

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THE WORK OF THE VARIOUS TEAMS WILL BE CO-ORDINATED BY A STEERING GROUP CHAIRED BY THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT,

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE PROGRAMME OF WORK WAS FULLY ENDORSED BY THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE AT ITS MEETING YESTERDAY AND MEMBERS OF THE TAC WOULD BE INVOLVED IN THE REVIEW,

THE PUBLIC WOULD BE KEPT INFORMED OF THE PROGRESS OF THE REVIEW AND WOULD BE INVITED BY THE VARIOUS SUB-GROUPS TO SUBMIT THEIR COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS ON IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BUS SERVICE, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

THE REVIEW IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF

SEPTEMBER.

THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT WHERE POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS IN BUS SERVICES WERE IDENTIFIED THEY WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED AS THE REVIEW PROGRESSED, WITHOUT WAITING FOR A FULL REPORT TO BE COMPILED FOR SUBMISSION TO THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL.

PRIVATE BED CHARGES TO BE REVISED IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS

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DAILY CHARGES FOR PRIVATE BEDS IN SOME GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS ARE TO BE REVISED FROM JUNE 1, BUT THE COST OF STAYING IN A GENERAL WARD WILL REMAIN AT $5 A DAY.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT SINCE 1975, THE MAINTENANCE RATES FOR PRIVATE BEDS HAVE NOT CHANGED AT $120 A DAY FOR FIRST CLASS AND $80 A DAY FOR SECOND CLASS.

INCREASED COSTS MADE IT NECESSARY TO REVISE SOME OF THESE CHARGES, HE SAID.

UNDER THE REVISED CHARGES, FIRST CLASS BEDS WILL BE INCREASED TO $240 A DAY AND SECOND CLASS BEDS TO $160 A DAY AT QUEEN MARY AND QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITALS, THE TWO GOVERNMENT REGIONAL HOSPITALS.

THE DAILY MAINTENANCE CHARGE FOR A SPECIAL CLASS BED IN TSAN YUK HOSPITAL WILL BE INCREASED FROM $20 TO $45, BUT THE MAINTENANCE CHARGES AT CASTLE PEAK HOSPITAL WILL REMAIN AT $120 FOR A FIRST CLASS BED AND $80 FOR A SECOND CLASS BED, DUE TO ITS RELATIVELY LOWER OPERATIONAL COSTS.

THE RATE FOR CHILDREN'S PRIVATE BEDS WILL STILL BE HALF OF THE ADULT RATE.

THE REDUCED RATES CIVIL SERVANTS PAY WILL ALSO BE CORRESPONDINGLY INCREASED.

/AFTER CONSULTIM

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