XN000022-1989-03-08 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 1989

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"IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES I AM SURE THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WILL EXPECT BOTH SIDES TO TALK OVER THE PROBLEMS AND NOT PUT PATIENTS' CARE AT RISK BY TAKING INDUSTRIAL ACTION OF ANY SORT.

ELSE.

"OUR HOSPITALS ARE FOR THE BENEFIT OF PATIENTS AND NO ONE

"CLEARLY, WE AS A COMMUNITY WOULD NOT WISH THEM ΤΟ BE PUT UNDER ANY ADDITIONAL STRESS OR STRAIN AS A RESULT OF INDUSTRIAL ACTION, HE SAID.

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SIR DAVID SAID HE HAD NO DOUBT THAT THE HOSPITAL STAFF HAD JOINED THEIR PROFESSION BECAUSE THEY WERE DEDICATED PEOPLE WHO ABOVE ALL WISHED TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY OF HONG KONG.

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"THEY HAVE A FINE REPUTATION IN THIS REGARD, HE SAID, AND APPEALED TO BOTH DOCTORS AND NURSES TO CONSIDER VERY CAREFULLY ALL THAT HAD BEEN SAID THIS AFTERNOON, THE COMMITMENT THAT HAD BEEN GIVEN TO RESOLVING THEIR PROBLEMS AND, ABOVE ALL, THEIR FIRST DUTY то PATIENTS UNDER CARE.

GOVT DOCTORS INVITED TO JOIN HIGH-LEVEL COMMITTEE

THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE HAS WRITTEN TODAY (WEDNESDAY) TO THE GOVERNMENT DOCTORS' ASSOCIATION ΤΟ INVITE THEM FORMALLY TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO PARTICIPATE IN A HIGH-LEVEL COMMITTEE WHICH THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO SET UP ΤΟ ADDRESS THE PRACTICAL AND STAFFING PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS.

THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON T.H. CHAU, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON THE COMMITTEE WOULD BE CHAIRED BY HIM PERSONALLY AND WOULD INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH, FINANCE BRANCH AND THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND, SUBJECT ΤΟ THE GOVERNMENT DOCTORS' ASSOCIATION'S AGREEMENT, REPRESENTATIVES OF THAT ASSOCIATION.

"IT IS MY MOST SINCERE WISH THAT THROUGH THIS DIRECT DIALOGUE, EFFECTIVE MEASURES CAN BE IDENTIFIED AND INTRODUCED IN THE SHORT TERM TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE EXISTED FOR 80 MANY YEARS, MR CHAU SAID WHEN SPEAKING IN THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES IN PUBLIC SECTOR HOSPITALS.

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ON THE HIGH WASTAGE RATE OF DOCTORS IN THE GOVERNMENT MR CHAU SAID THE ISSUE WAS ANOTHER MAJOR CONCERN.

SERVICE,

"IT IS