XN000022-1986-10-15 — Page 58

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1986

+AS LONG AS THE PROBLEM OF OVERCROWDING IN HOSPITALS REMAINS UNSOLVED, 'B' CLASS BEDS CAN ONLY BE CREATED AT THE EXPENSE OF THIRD CLASS BEDS. THIS WOULD AGGRAVATE THE PROBLEM OF INSUFFICIENT THIRD CLASS BEDS. AS A RESULT, THE GENERAL PUBLIC WILL SUFFER.+

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ON THE PROPOSAL TO SET UP A HOSPITAL AUTHORITY INDEPENDENT OF GOVERNMENT, MRS TAM SAID SHE FELT THAT IT WOULD INCUR A HIGH COST WHICH THE REPORT HAD NOT DEALT WITH IN DETAIL.

+ IT IS DOUBTFUL WHETHER THE SIMPLE FINANCIAL ESTIMATES IN THE REPORT WOULD FULLY REFLECT THE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE TO BE INCURRED BY THE AUTHORITY.+

MRS TAM ALSO SAID THAT HONG KONG WAS AT THE THRESHOLD OF POLITICAL CHANGES, AND ANY DRASTIC REFORM INTRODUCED INTO THE SOCIETY MIGHT LEAD TO SPECULATIONS AND SENSITIVE REACTION. SUCH SOCIAL COST SHOULD ALSO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.

+ I HAVE TO ASK WHETHER THE OPTION OF A HOSPITAL AUTHORITY IS THE ONLY WAY TO IMPROVE HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT; OR SHOULD WE NOT FIRST CONSIDER IMPROVEMENTS TO THE EXISTING STRUCTURE WITHOUT CHANGING IT FUNDAMENTALLY? INCREASED ADMINISTRATIVE EFFICIENCY AND STRENGTHENED TIES BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS SHOULD BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THE SAME OBJECTIVES,+ SHE SAID.

PUBLIC AGAINST CUT IN GOVT ROLE *****

PEOPLE DO NOT WANT TO SEE ANY CURTAILMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO HOSPITAL SERVICES, THE HON TAM Y1U-CHUNG SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON THE REPORT ON THE DELIVERY OF MEDICAL SERVICES IN HOSPITALS.

MR TAM SAID MEDICAL SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT FORMED AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES.

IF THE REPORT WERE TO BE IMPLEMENTED, THE NATURE OF SUCH WELFARE SERVICES WOULD GRADUALLY DIMINISH.

+IN A SOCIETY LIKE HONG KONG WHERE SOCIAL SERVICES ARE ALREADY INSUFFICIENT, SUCH A SETBACK WOULD BE HARD TO ACCEPT,+ HE SAID.

/ON THE