XN000022-1989-03-15 — Page 3

1

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 1989

RESOLUTION ON MHD SPLIT PASSED

A RESOLUTION MEDICAL AND HEALTH

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) PASSED IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMING SPLIT OF THE DEPARTMENT INTO TWO NEW DEPARTMENTS.

EXISTING

DEPARTMENT

ON APRIL 1, THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE WILL BE DIVIDED BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HOSPITAL SERVICES.

"THE PURPOSE OF THE RESOLUTION IS TO TRANSFER TO THE

DIRECTOR OF HEALTH OR THE DIRECTOR OF HOSPITAL SERVICES FUNCTIONS PRESENTLY EXERCISED BY THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES NUMBER OF LEGAL ENACTMENTS, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON T.H. CHAU, SAID WHEN MOVING THE RESOLUTION.

UNDER A

SPEAKING AGAINST THE MOTION THAT THE RESOLUTION BE PASSED, DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP SAID SHE OBJECTED IN PRINCIPLE TO THE PROPOSED RE-ORGANISATION BECAUSE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES COULD NOT IN REALITY BE DIVIDED.

DR IP, WHO ABSTAINED FROM VOTING, QUESTIONED WHY THE GOVERNMENT HAD NOT SET UP A STEERING COMMITTEE TO REVIEW MEDICAL SERVICES AS A WHOLE, INSTEAD OF CONFINING THE REVIEW ΤΟ HOSPITAL SERVICES ONLY.

THE HON RONALD CHOW, WHO VOTED AGAINST THE MOTION, SAID HK SUPPORTED IN PRINCIPLE THE PROPOSED SPLIT, BUT HE FELT CONFUSION WOULD ENSUE UNDER PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS.

HE SAID HE CONTINUED ΤΟ GET DIFFERENT EXPLANATIONS FROM OFFICIALS, AND IN VIEW OF THE CONFUSION FURTHER CLARIFICATION AND CONSULTATION WAS NECESSARY BEFORE A SPLIT WAS IMPLEMENTED.

SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION, DR THE HON LEONG CHE-HUNG SAID THAT MANY "GREY AREAS" WOULD REMAIN AFTER THE SPLIT, AND IT WAS UNDERSTANDABLE THAT MANY FRONT-LINE WORKERS WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR CAREERS.

SPLIT AND

IT WAS CRUCIAL FOR THE ADMINISTRATION TO AFFIRM THAT THE WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF A PROGRESSIVE CHANGE FOR THE BETTER, THAT THIS MOVE WOULD BE REVIEWED ON A REGULAR BASIS WITH FULL CONSULTATION WITH THE WORKING STAFF.

IN MOVING THE MOTION, MR CHAU SAID THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL PUBLIC HEALTH MATTERS INCLUDING HEALTH EDUCATION, SURVEILLANCE AND PREVENTIVE HEALTH PROGRAMMES.

/"IT WILL