XN000022-1987-12-15 — Page 3

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1987

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE NEW ORGANISATION WOULD OFFER MANY ATTRACTIONS, SUCH AS CLEARER LINES OF COMMAND, GREATER FLEXIBILITY, INCREASED COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND ENHANCED ACCOUNTABILITY,

SIR DAVID SAID THE PLAN WAS TO SET UP A PROVISIONAL HOSPITAL AUTHORITY ON APRIL 1, NEXT YEAR, AND A STATUTORY AUTHORITY BY APRIL 1989, AND TO BRING NEW FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS INTO EFFECT IN THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1989-90.

TURNING TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR, SIR DAVID SAID FOR MANY YEARS IT HAD PLAYED A COMPLEMENTARY ROLE IN THE PROVISION OF MEDICAL SERVICES, MOSTLY IN THE FORM OF PRIMARY CARE.

"THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO SET UP A NEW DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO LOOK AFTER MATTERS RELATING TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE.

'WE SHALL BE TAKING A CLOSE LOOK IN THE NEAR FUTURE AT THE PRESENT PRIMARY CARE SYSTEM, HE SAID.

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UNEMPLOYMENT, UNDEREMPLOYMENT STATISTICS

FOR AUGUST

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OCTOBER RELEASED

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IN THE THREE MONTHS AUGUST

OCTOBER 1987, BOTH THE UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT RATES REMAINED STABLE AT A LOW LEVEL, COMPARED WITH THE THRER MONTHS ENDING JULY 1987. ACCORDING TO THE LATEST LABOUR FORCE STATISTICS RELEASED TODAY (TUESDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

THESE FIGURES INDICATE THAT THE LABOUR MARKET CONDITIONS REMAINED TIGHT, WITH THE LOCAL WORKFORCE FULLY EMPLOYED.

1987

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HAVE

OCTOBER FOR THE

THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR AUGUST WAS 1.9 PER CENT, COMPARED WITH 1.8 PER CENT THREE-MONTHS ENDING JULY 1987 AND 2.6 PER CENT FOR THE SAME PERIOD A YEAR EARLIER.

THE INCREASE OF 0.1 PERCENTAGE POINT OVER THE PREVIOUS THREE MONTH PERIOD IS STATISTICALLY NOT SIGNIFICANT, WHILE THE DECREASE OF 1.3 PERCENTAGE POINTS BELOW THE SAMK PERIOD A УКАН EARLIER IS STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT.

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WAS ENDING

THE NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS IN AUGUST OCTOBER 1987 ESTIMATED AT 52,900, COMPARED WITH 49,100 FOR THE THREE MONTHS JULY 1987 AND 70,700 FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDING OCOTBER 1986.

THE UNDEREMPLOYMENT