XN000022-1988-12-07 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1988

MR JACOBS POINTED OUT THAT THE USUAL TIMEFRAME FOR THE PASSAGE OF A BILL INVOLVED THE RESUMPTION OF THE SECOND READING AND THIRD READING 14 DAYS AFTER THE BILL HAD BEEN INTRODUCED INTO THE COUNCIL.

"MEMBERS ARE, OF COURSE, FREE TO REQUEST MORE TIME ΤΟ STUDY ANY PROPOSED LEGISLATION THAT COMES BEFORE THEM, HE SAID.

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MR JACOBS EXPLAINED THAT, IN GENERAL, MEMBERS WERE ASKED TO GIVE URGENT ATTENTION TO A BILL AGAINST A SPECIFIC DEADLINE ONLY WHEN THE BILL DEALT WITH AN URGENT OR EMERGENCY SITUATION.

"HAPPILY, SUCH BILLS ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN, HE SAID.

"OF THE 90 BILLS ENACTED IN THE LAST SESSION, ONLY FOUR OF THEM FELL UNDER THIS CATEGORY.

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MR JACOBS ADDED THAT THERE WERE ALWAYS LEGAL AND POLICY PROBLEMS TO BE FACED IN TACKLING ALL BUT THE SIMPLEST ITEMS OF LEGISLATION.

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"THESE PROBLEMS TAKE TIME TO ANALYSE AND PROCESS, HE SAID.

"WE DO OUR BEST то ENSURE THAT ACCEPTABLE AND WORKABLE LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS ARE PLACED BEFORE THIS COUNCIL.

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MEDICAL SERVICES: ENTITLED PERSONS BENEFIT EQUALLY

ALL ENTITLED PERSONS SHOULD BE EQUALLY ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THE HEAVILY SUBSIDISED SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE PUBLIC HOSPITALS AND CLINICS, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON T.H. CHAU,

SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE SERVICES WERE PROVIDED REGARDLESS OF THE PATIENTS' FINANCIAL MEANS OR THE SOURCE OF THEIR FINANCIAL SUPPORT, MR CHAU SAID WHEN REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM DR THE HON LEONG CHE-HUNG.

DR LEONG HAD ASKED WHETHER OR NOT CONSIDERATION WOULD BE GIVEN TO CHARGING THE FULL COST OF HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL TREATMENT IN GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITAL OR CLINICS, IN RESPECT OF PATIENTS WHOSE EXPENSES WERE COVERED BY INSURANCE OR ASSISTANCE SCHEMES.

"ENTITLED PERSONS ARE THOSE WHO HOLD A HONG KONG IDENTITY CARD OR A UK PASSPORT THE LATTER BECAUSE OF A RECIPROCAL ARRANGEMENT IN THE UK FOR HONG KONG RESIDENTS, MR CHAU SAID.

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