XN000022-1984-10-24 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1984

LOANS FOR DENTAL GRADUATES SUGGESTED

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THE GOVERNMENT WAS ASKED TODAY TO CONSIDER LOANS TO DENTAL GRADUATES TO HELP THEM SET UP THEIR OWN CLINICS.

RAISING THIS QUESTION ON THE OPENING DAY OF THE ANNUAL POLICY DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, DR THE HON HARRY FANG SAID HIS SUGGESTION WAS BASED ON THE FACTS THAT:

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IT WAS NOT THE GOVERNMENT POLICY TO PROVIDE GENERAL SERVICES IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND CLINICS,

THE PRINCE PHILIP DENTAL SCHOOL WAS TO PRODUCE QUALIFIED DENTAL SURGEONS FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND

* THE PRIMARY DIFFICULTY IN SETTING UP A DENTAL

CLINIC WAS THE EXPENSE OF THE EQUIPMENT.

DR FANG SAID SUCH LOW-INTEREST OR INTEREST-FREE LOANS WOULD HELP ACHIEVE THE GOVERNMENT'S ULTIMATE AIM OF IMPROVING DENTAL SERVICES WITHOUT A RECURRENT FINANCIAL COMMITMENT.

HE ALSO CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO ENCOURAGE THE ESTABLISHMENT

OF HONG KONG'S OWN ACADEMY OF MEDICINE.

THIS WOULD PRIMARILY BE AN EXAMINATION BODY TO VALIDATE HIGHER QUALIFICATIONS FOR CLINICAL SPECIALTIES AND TO MAINTAIN INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTED STANDARDS, HE SAID.

THIS WAS NECESSARY BECAUSE BY 1997 OR PERHAPS BEFORE, LOCAL TRAINING MIGHT NO LONGER BE RECOGNISED BY OVERSEAS COLLEGES SUCH AS THE U.K.'S ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS AND PHYSICIANS.

DR FANG RECALLED A PARAGRAPH IN THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS WHICH SAID PLANS FOR 1985 INCLUDED PREPARATION OF A TRANSPORT POLICY FOR THE DISABLED, TO ENSURE THAT, AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE DISABLED WERE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN GENERAL TRANSPORT PLANNING.

+1 WELCOME THIS MOVE AND WISH TO SUGGEST THAT RESPONSIBILITY OF THE REHAB BUS, WHICH IS A DOOR-TO-DOOR SERVICE CARRYING THE SEVERELY DISABLED TO AND FROM WORK AND IS PRESENTLY OPERATING 18 ROUTES, BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT BECAUSE PROVIDING TRANSPORT FOR THIS PURPOSE IS NO LONGER WELFARE, HE SAID.

HE ALSO URGED THAT THIS SERVICE BE EXPANDED FURTHER TO ENABLE MORE DISABLED PEOPLE TO ENGAGE IN PRODUCTIVE WORK.

ON THE ENACTMENT OF NEW LEGISLATION ON ACCESS TO BUILDINGS, DR FANG SAID THIS HAD BEEN IN THE PIPELINE FOR SOME TIME AND A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS ON THIS ISSUE HAD BEEN RAISED AT THE LAST TWO LEGCO SESSIONS.

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