XN000022-1988-05-04 — Page 18

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 1988

TURNING TO THE SUPPLY OF DENTISTS, HE UNDERSTANDING THAT UP TO AND INCLUDING LAST YEAR THE PRINCE PHILIP DENTAL HOSPITAL WERE ABLE TO GET WAS CONCERN ABOUT THE FUTURE.

SAID IT WAS HIS THE GRADUATES OF JOBS, BUT THERE

HE NOTED THAT THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAD SET UP A DENTISTS SUB-COMMITTEE TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER.

"THE SUB-COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF MEMBERS REPRESENTING THE FACULTY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION, THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND MY BRANCH, EXPECTED TO COMPLETE ITS REPORT WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS."

ON A MEMBER'S SUGGESTION THAT MORE USE SHOULD BE MADE PRIVATE SECTOR IN MEETING THE GOVERNMENT'S OBLIGATION TO DENTAL TREATMENT FOR CIVIL SERVANTS AND PENSIONERS, MR DOUBTED IF THIS WAS A PRACTICABLE PROPOSITION IN VIEW DIFFICULTIES WHICH OCCURRED WHEN THE IDEA WAS PREVIOUSLY TRIED.

DENTAL DENTAL AND IS

OF THE PROVIDE CHAMBERS OF THE

AS TO THE BRITISH MILITARY HOSPITAL, HE SAID NO DECISION HAD YET BEEN MADE ON THE HOSPITAL'S FUTURE.

HOWEVER, HE ADDED THAT IF IT WAS DECIDED TO REDEVELOP THE SITE, HE WOULD CERTAINLY SUPPORT ANY PROPOSAL WHICH WOULD RELIEVE THE PRESSURE ON THE VERY MUCH OVERCROWDED QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL.

IMPROVED SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS FOR ELDERLY

A RECENT PACKAGE OF IMPROVEMENTS TO SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS FOR THE ELDERLY INCLUDED INCREASING THE RATES OF OLD AGE ALLOWANCE FOR THOSE OVER 70 AS FROM APRIL 1 AND EXTENDING THE ALLOWANCE TO THE 65-69 AGE GROUP FROM SEPTEMBER, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY)

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SPEAKING IN THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BUDGET, MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT THE ISSUE OF THE NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY WAS PROMINENT IN THE SPEECHES OF A NUMBER OF MEMBERS, AND IT WAS AN AREA OF MAJOR IMPORTANCE IN THE SOCIAL WELFARE FIELD.

ONE OF THE POINTS RAISED CARE-AND-ATTENTION HOMES FOR RECOGNISED AND WE ARE MAKING DEMAND, HE SAID.

FT

WAS THE SPEEDY PROVISION OF MORE THE ELDERLY. "THIS NEED IS FULLY EVERY EFFORT TO MEET THE PROJECTED

/"IN ADDITION