XN000022-1983-11-09 — Page 8

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1983

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REFERRING TO MISS LYDIA DUNN'S SUGGESTION THAT THE SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS SHOULD BE REVIEWED AND UPDATED, DR THONG GAVE ASSURANCE THAT CLEARLY DEFINED SYSTEMS DO EXIST AT CLINICAL LEVEL IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS.+

HE SAID: +EACH CLINICAL UNIT UNDER ITS HEAD DRAWS ITS OWN GUIDELINES ON SPECIFIC SITUATION OR DISEASES WHICH ITS CLINICAL STAFF MAY OBSERVE.

+THE FORMULATION OF GUIDELINES WHICH GOVERN WARD PRACTICES IS THE PREROGATIVE OF THE INDIVIDUAL HOSPITAL UNIT, WHICH SHOULD HAVE THE PROFESSIONAL FREEDOM TO PRESCRIBE THE MANNER IN WHICH ITS PATIENTS ARE TREATED. THIS IS BECAUSE THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN OR THE UNIT IS IN THE BEST POSITION TO MAKE JUDGEMENT ON THE INDIVIDUAL CONDITION OF THE IR PATIENTS, HE SAID.

HE AGREED WITH MISS DUNN THAT SUCH GUIDELINES SHOULD BE UPDATED AND REVIEWED ON A REGULAR BASIS BY THOSE WORKING IN HOSPITALS, IN THE LIGHT OF THE ACTUAL SITUATION.

SAID.

THIS WAS BEING DONE AND WOULD BE A CONTINUING PRACTICE, HE

+HOWEVER, THE BEST SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES ARE NOT SUBSTITUTES FOR THE ASSESSMENTS AND JUDGMENT OF THE PROFESSIONALS WORKING IN THE FIELD WHICH ARE ALSO ESSENTIAL TO THE EFFICIENT WORKING OF THE SYSTEM ITSELF, HE SAID.

BILL ON CITY POLYTECHNIC INTRODUCED *****

A BILL INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY IS THE FINAL STEP REQUIRED TO BRING THE CITY POLYTECHNIC OF HONG KONG INTO BEING, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON NEIL HENDERSON, SAID IN THE COUNCIL TODAY.

THE GOVERNMENT HAD ACCEPTED THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY THE HON SIR S.Y. CHUNG, CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SECOND POLYTECHNIC, MR HENDERSON SAID, IN MOVING THE CITY POLYTECHNIC OF HONG KONG BILL 1983 THROUGH A SECOND READING.

AS RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMITTEE, THE NEW POLYTECHNIC WILL. BEGIN ITS FIRST COURSES IN OCTOBER 1984 IN TEMPORARY PREMISES BEFORE ITS PERMANENT CAMPUS AT TAT CHEE AVENUE IS COMPLETED

IN 1988.

+THAT A NEW TERTIARY INSTITUTION CAN BE ESTABLISHED AND INCORPORATED IN LESS THAN ONE AND A HALF YEARS AFTER THE APPOINTMENT OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE SPEAKS FOR THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF SIR S.Y. CHUNG AND HIS COLLEAGUES, FOR WHICH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE MOST GRATEFUL,+ MR HENDERSON SAID.

THE GOVERNANCE OF THE NEW INSTITUTION WILL BE MODELLED ON THAT OF THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC.

/ITS GOVERNING