XN000022-1984-10-21 — Page 3

2

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1984

TO RECOGNISE THEIR HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE, THE STEPS TOGETHER WITH THE GAS LAMPS AT THE TOP AND BOTTOM WERE DECLARED A PROTECTED MONUMENT IN 1979.

BUT THE STEPS REMAIN A USEFUL PRESENT-DAY THOROUGHFARE, PROVIDING A PEDESTRIAN LINK BETWEEN QUEEN'S ROAD CENTRAL AND ICE HOUSE STREET.

THE RESTORATION PROJECT BEGAN IN LATE SEPTEMBER AND IS SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION BY EARLY DECEMBER THIS YEAR.

SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE PROVES POPULAR *****

IN HONG KONG ONE IN EVERY THREE PUPILS IN PRIMARY ONE TO FORM THREE NOW PARTICIPATES IN THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE.

AND THE PARTICIPATION FEE IS A MERE $10 A YEAR.

ECONOMICAL MEDICAL TREATMENT IS PROVIDED BY PRIVATE MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS, AND THE SCHEME IS HEAVILY SUBVENTED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

+ENROLMENT IS VOLUNTARY. A PUPIL MAY ENROL THROUGH HIS SCHOOL ANY DAY OF THE YEAR OR, IF HIS SCHOOL DOES NOT PARTICIPATE, DIRECTLY WITH US, SAID SIR ALBERT RODRIGUES, CHAIRMAN OF THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE BOARD.

+PARTICIPATION ENTITLES THE PUPIL TO VISIT THE DOCTOR OF HIS SCHOOL'S CHOICE AS MANY TIMES A YEAR AS HE WISHES.+

+ THE NUMBER OF PUPILS IN THE SCHEME IS STEADILY INCREASING. BY MARCH THIS YEAR 308 444 PUPILS FROM 783 SCHOOLS HAD ENROLLED, COMPARED TO THE LOW OF 37 181 IN MARCH 1972, HE SAID.

LAST YEAR 262 DOCTORS PROVIDED ALMOST 900 000 CONSULTATIONS AND PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS.

THE DOCTOR NOW RECEIVES $75 PER YEAR FOR EACH PUPIL ON HIS PANEL, OF WHICH THE GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTES $65 AND THE PUPIL $10. BEFORE OCTOBER 1, THE GOVERNMENT'S CONTRIBUTION WAS $50 AND THE PUPIL'S, $5.

DURING THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR THE GOVERNMENT'S SUBVENTION TOTALLED ABOUT $15 MILLION WHICH INCLUDED ABOUT $677 000 FOR ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.

+COMPARABLE MEDICAL CARE WOULD BE HARD TO OBTAIN AS ECONOMICALLY HERE, OR FOR THAT MATTER, ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD,+ SIR ALBERT ADDED.

LAST YEAR PUPILS PAID ON AVERAGE THREE VISITS TO THE IR DOCTOR. AT THIS RATE THE DOCTOR WOULD RECEIVE ABOUT $25 PER CONSULTATION, WITH THE PUPIL PAYING JUST OVER $3 PER VISIT.

/BY COMPARISON