XN000022-1984-01-11 — Page 25

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1984

UNEMPLOYMENT WAS NOW DOWN TO ABOUT FOUR PER CENT, FROM FIVE TO SIX PER CENT.

+ YOU

THE CURRENCY STABILISATION MEASURES HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL. WILL NOT FIND THE NAME OF HONG KONG ON THE LIST OF THOSE REQUIRING THE IR DEBTS TO BE RESCHEDULED, OR SEEKING IMF SUPPORT, NOR IS THERE ANY REASON IT SHOULD APPEAR THERE IN THE FUTURE.+

SIR EDWARD SAID THAT DESPITE THE TROUBLES OF SOME COMPANIES MOST HAD WEATHERED THE STORM. +A GDP GROWTH RATE OF SIX PER CENT IN 1983 IS NOT A SIGN OF A COLLAPSING ECONOMY.+

HE STRESSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT REMAINED STRONGLY COMMITTED TO VIGOROUS AND CONTINUING INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF THE TERRITORY - AS DEMONSTRATED BY AMBITIOUS NEW DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES.

FIRST, SECOND CLASS HOSPITAL BED FEES REVISED

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THE DAILY MAINTENANCE CHARGES FOR FIRST AND SECOND CLASS BEDS IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS WILL BE REVISED FROM JANUARY 15, 1984, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

AT PRESENT, THERE ARE THREE GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS WITH FIRST AND SECOND CLASS BEDS. THEY ARE QUEEN MARY, QUEEN ELIZABETH AND CASTLE PEAK HOSPITALS.

FOR A FIRST CLASS BED IN QUEEN MARY AND QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL, THE DAILY RATE WILL BE REVISED FROM $240 TO $600. THE FEE FOR A SECOND CLASS BED WILL GO UP FROM $160 TO $400.

AT CASTLE PEAK HOSPITAL, THE NEW RATES FOR A FIRST AND SECOND CLASS BED WILL BE $195 (PRESENT RATE $120) AND $130 (PRESENT RATE $80) RESPECTIVELY.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE RATE FOR SPECIAL ACCOMMODATION IN TSAN YUK HOSPITAL WILL ALSO BE REVISED TO $250. THE PRESENT RATE IS $45.

THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE AIM OF THE REVISION IN FEES IS TO RECOVER COSTS FOR THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE FIRST AND SECOND CLASS WARDS.

AT PRESENT, THERE ARE 49 FIRST CLASS BEDS AND 172 SECOND CLASS BEDS (INCLUDING 18 SPECIAL CLASS BEDS IN TSAN YUK HOSPITAL) IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE REVISION OF RATES WILL ONLY AFFECT A SMALL NUMBER OF PRIVATE PATIENTS WHO CHOOSE TO RECEIVE THE IR TREATMENT IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND WHO ARE WELL ABLE TO AFFORD THE NEW FEES.

/MAINTENANCE CHARGES