XN000022-1985-03-27 — Page 7

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WL TESDAY, MARCH 27, 1985

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WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S TRUE FINANCIAL POSITION?

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WHAT IS THE TRUE SIZE OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR?

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WHAT ARE THE LIKELY FINANCIAL NEEDS OF THE MTRC AND OTHER STATUTORY CORPORATIONS?

* WHAT ARE THE PROJECTIONS OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE FOR

THE FORECAST PERIOD?

* WHAT WILL BE OR ARE LIKELY TO BE THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF ANNEX |11 OF THE JOINT DECLARATION ON OUR AVAILABLE CAPITAL REVENUE?

* CAN WE MAINTAIN OUR RECURRENT SERVICES INTACT AND AVOID STOP-GO IN OUR CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMME WITHOUT RECOURSE TO HIGHER TAXATION?

* IF NOT, THEN WHAT?

PRIVATISATION OF MEDICAL SERVICES URGED

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN ASKED TO CONSIDER SERIOUSLY THE POSSIBILITY OF PRIVATISING ITS HOSPITALS AND CLINICS.

DR THE HON HARRY FANG MADE THIS PLEA DURING THE BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY,

HE SAID THAT THE PRESENT UNFAVOURABLE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND CLINICS AS WELL AS THE DISCONTENT OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH STAFF WERE NOT NECESSARILY DIRECTED AT THE ADMINISTRATION WHICH HAD DONE A MOST ADMIRABLE JOB IN MAINTAINING HONG KONG AT A VERY HIGH STANDARD OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

+THEY COULD BE THE RESULT OF THE RAPID INCREASE OF OUR POPULATION, THE INCREASING AFFLUENCE AND ASPIRATIONS OF OUR PEOPLE, AND THE FACT THAT OUR PRESENT SYSTEM OF HOSPITALS AND CLINICS NEEDS CHANGING, HE SAID.

DR FANG SAID THAT IT WOULD BE QUITE IMPOSSIBLE TO IMPROVE MEDICAL CARE FROM THE PRESENT LEVEL AS IT WOULD HAVE TO COMPETE WITH OTHER SERVICES FOR THE LIMITED FUNDS.

HE BELIEVED THAT BY CHANGING THE PRESENT SYSTEM AND ALLOWING GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND CLINICS TO BE MANAGED INDEPENDENTLY, EACH WITH ITS AUTONOMOUS BOARD OF GOVERNORS AND A BLOCK GRANT, A GREAT DEAL OF IMPROVEMENT COULD BE ACHIEVED.

/+BECAUSE FACH