XN000022-1986-03-27 — Page 20

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THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 1986

MR TAI SAID THAT A LOT OF BEDS IN SUBVENTED HOSPITALS WERE BEING OCCUPIED BY ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO SHOULD REALLY BE ACCOMMODATED IN INFIRMARIES OR CONVALESCENT HOMES.

HE THEREFORE SUGGESTED THAT HOSPITALS WITH A LOW OCCUPANCY RATE, OR THOSE FREQUENTLY USED BY ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO REQUIRED MINIMUM MEDICAL CARE, BE CONVERTED INTO INFIRMARIES OR CONVALESCENT HOMES TO ENSURE THAT BETTER VALUE FOR MONEY WAS BEING SPENT ON MEDICAL SERVICES.

TURNING TO EDUCATION, MR TAI FOCUSSED ON THE SERIOUS SHORTFALL OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PLACES IN NORTHWEST NEW TERRITORIES.

HE SAID THIS WAS THE BACKLASH RESULTING FROM INADEQUATE CONSIDERATION IN TOWN PLANNING AND AN OVER-CAUTIOUS BUDGETARY CONTROL AT THE INITIAL PLANNING STAGE.

NOTING THAT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAD PROPOSED HALF-HEARTED MEASURES TO ALLEVIATE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE SITUATION, HE SAID THIS CREATED ADMINISTRATIVE DIFFICULTIES AND LOWERED THE STANDARD OF EDUCATION OF SCHOOLS IN NORTHWEST NEW TERRITORIES.

+1 WOULD THEREFORE CALL FOR ADDITIONAL PROVISION TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO EXPAND THOSE SCHOOLS SITUATED IN NORTHWEST NEW TERRITORIES WHICH HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF EXPANSION AND IN PARTICULAR, MORE SCHOOL PLACES BE BOUGHT FROM PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THE AREA,+ HE SAID.

MR TAI FINALLY URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO HAVE A LONG-TERM POLICY IN RESPECT OF BETTER USE OF AVAILABLE LAND SO AS TO EXPAND THE INDUSTRIAL AND AGRICULTURAL POTENTIAL IN THE TERRITORY.

HE SAID HE FELT THERE WAS A GENUINE NEED FOR MORE FUNDS TO INITIATE A MORE DRASTIC RURAL LAND POLICY.

WITH REGARD TO THE QUESTION CONCERNING THE KA WAH BANK, MR TAI ECHOED HIS SUPPORT TO THE POINTS RAISED BY THE HON MARTIN LEE AND SAID THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD GIVE SOME INDICATIONS OF THE EXTENT OF ITS COMMITMENT IN RESPECT OF THE RECENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES CONCERNED.

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