XN000022-1989-03-15 — Page 7

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 1989

THE CONSULTATIVE MEASURES INCLUDED OVER 60 MEETINGS SINCE THE SUMMER OF 1987 WHEN THE GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO SET UP THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY AND TO RE-ORGANISE THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, MR CHAU SAID.

THESE MEETINGS INCLUDED THOSE JOINTLY HELD WITH ALL GRADES OF REPRESENTATIVES IN THE FORMAL DEPARTMENTAL CONSULTATIVE COMMITTER OR SEPARATELY WITH DIFFERENT GRADE REPRESENTATIVES COVERING MEDICAL AND DENTAL OFFICERS, NURSES, PARAMEDICS, GENERAL GRADE OFFICERS AND MODEL SCALE ONE OFFICERS.

IN ADDITION, TWO SPECIAL ROUNDS OF OPEN CONSULTATION SESSIONS WERE HELD IN THE AUTUMN OF 1987 AND IN THE SUMMER OF 1988 IN ALL HOSPITALS AND MOST CLINICS.

THESE SESSIONS ENABLED STAFF ASSOCIATIONS TO BE DIRECTLY BRIEFED ON MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND TO MANAGEMENT.

WHO DID NOT BELONG TO THE RE-ORGANISATION OF THE PUT FORWARD THEIR VIEWS ΤΟ

"TO ENSURE THAT EACH AND EVERY MEMBER OF THE DEPARTMENT IS AWARE OF THE CHANGES BRING INTRODUCED, TWO BILINGUAL DEPARTMENTAL CIRCULARS WERE ISSUED. ONE ON OCTOBER 12, 1987, ANOTHER ON JULY 25, 1988," MR CHAU CONTINUED.

"THESE CIRCULARS WERE GIVEN THE WIDEST CIRCULATION POSSIBLE, AND IN BOTH CASES A HOTLINE TELEPHONE NUMBER WAS GIVEN IN ORDER ΤΟ ENCOURAGE STAFF TO SEEK CLARIFICATION AND TO PUT FORWARD THEIR VIEWS ON THE MATTER."

A FURTHER DETAILED CIRCULAR WOULD BE ISSUED SHORTLY TO EXPLAIN TO STAFF THE RE-ORGANISATION OF THE DEPARTMENT AND TO REPEAT THE ASSURANCES OF THEIR CIVIL SERVICE STATUS, MR CHAU SAID.

A GROUP OF 43 STAFF ASSOCIATIONS HAD ALSO FORMED THEMSELVES INTO A LEAGUE REPRESENTING ALL GRADES OF STAFF OTHER THAN THE DOCTORS AND HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATORS TO SAFEGUARD THE INTERESTS OF THE STAFF WITH THE APPROACHING ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY.

MR CHAU POINTED OUT THAT THEIR LATEST MEETING WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT WAS HELD ON MARCH 7 WHERE THEY INDICATED CLEARLY THEY UNDERSTOOD THE REASONS FOR, AND DID NOT OBJECT TO, THE RE-ORGANISATION OF THE DEPARTMENT ON APRIL 1.

"IN RESPONSE TO REQUESTS FROM INDIVIDUAL STAFF ASSOCIATIONS, ADDITIONAL MEETINGS HAVE ALSO BEEN ARRANGED WITH VARIOUS STAFF REPRESENTATIVES AND GROUPS TO FURTHER EXPLAIN THE DETAILS OF RE-ORGANISATION AND TO ALLAY THEIR ANXIETIES, HE SAID.

"THESE MEETINGS HAVE

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GENERALLY BEEN WELL RECEIVED BY THE

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