XN000022-1987-12-22 — Page 5

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1987

WHILE THESE TWO TOPICS WILL BE DISCUSSED IN

THE NEXT MEETING ON JANUARY 15, 1988, SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS, TO

HELD MONTHLY, WILL EXAMINE ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION, IN-VITRO FERTILISATION, EGG DONATION, EMBRYO DONATION, EMBRYO RESEARCH AND OTHER ISSUES AS THEY ARISE.

MEANWHILE, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO MAKE KNOWN TO ГНЕ COMMITTEE, THROUGH THE HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THEIR VIEWS ON THE ISSUES TO BE EXAMINED.

AT TODAY'S MEETING, IT WAS ALSO DECIDED THAT MORE EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION ON THE TECHNIQUES INVOLVED IN SCIENTIFICALLY ASSISTED HUMAN REPRODUCTION ΤΟ ENHANCE PUBLIC'S AWARENESS OF THE ISSUE.

THE COMMITTEE, CHAIRED BY DR LEUNG CHI-HUNG, WAS RECENTLY SET UP TO ADVISE THE GOVERNMENT ON THE SOCIAL, MORAL, ETHICAL AND LEGAL ISSUKS ARISING FROM LOCAL DEVELOPMENTS IN REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY DESIGNED TO HELP INFERTILE WOMEN TO HAVE BABIES.

MEMBERS INCLUDE MR CHRISTOPHER CHAN, SOLICITOR; MR JIMSON CHAN, SOCIAL WORKER; DR FANNY CHEUNG, LECTURER IN PSYCHOLOGY; DR CONRAD LAM, LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBER; MRS PEGGY LAM, FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HONG KONG FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION; DR LAW CHI-LIM, GYNAECOLOGIST: AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS, MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH.

0

RC SURPLUS BUDGET ADOPTED

THE REGIONAL COUNCIL'S ESTIMATES OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE FOR 1988-89 WERE TODAY (TUESDAY) ADOPTED AT ITS FULL COUNCIL MEETING.

PRESIDED OVER BY COUNCIL CHAIRMAN, MR CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, THE MEETING WAS TOLD THAT ESTIMATED REVENUE FOR 1988-89 WOULD STAND AT $1,631 MILLION WHILE ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE WOULD BE IN THE REGION OF $1,253 MILLION, RESULTING IN A BUDGETED SURPLUS OF ABOUT $378 MILLION.

AND THE COUNCIL'S RESERVE WAS EXPECTED TO INCREASE FURTHER FROM $254 MILLION TO $416 MILLION BY MARCH 31, 1988 AND TO $794 MILLION BY MARCH 31, 1989.

THE BUDGETED REVENUE FOR THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR WOULD COME MAINLY FROM RATES AT ABOUT $1,168 MILLION.

THERE WOULD ALSO BE A GRANT OF $273.6 MILLION FROM THE GOVERNMENT UNDER A NEW FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNCIL

THE GOVERNMENT.

AND

THE BALANCE