XN000022-1989-04-26 — Page 31

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1989

MAKING, IF THE ARGUMENT WAS THAT PRIVATE HOSPITALS WERE PROFIT

OF HOTELS, COULD THERE WAS NO REASON WHY A HOSPITAL TAX, LIKE THAT NOT BE INTRODUCED

FUTURE PRIVATE HOSPITALS WHICH WERE GRANTED FREE LAND. SHE SUGGESTED.

FOR THOSE

DR IP ALSO CALLED FOR MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR OPEN EMPLOYMENT THE MODERATELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED.

FOR

TO HOUSE SHE NOTED THAT IT COST THE GOVERNMENT $1,500 A MONTH

IT ONE MODERATELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED ADULT IN A SHELTERED WORKSHOP.

ATTENDEE COULD EARN OVER HAD BEEN PROVED BEYOND DOUBT THAT SUCH AN $1,800 A MONTH IN OPEN EMPLOYMENT,

THIS WOULD REPRESENT

A REAL INCREASE IN INCOME

OF LABOUR REDUCTION

FOR

SHORTAGE

AND

THESE THE

PEOPLE, NOT TO MENTION THE BOOSTING OF MORALE FOR THESE PEOPLE, SHE SAID.

MENTALLY

THAT THE IF THE IDEA WAS GIVEN FULL SUPORT, SHE WAS CONFIDENT DEFICIENCY OF SERVICES FOR THE ADULT

HANDICAPPED COULD BE RESOLVED WITHIN THREE YEARS.

то

SHE CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO ORGANISE A MASSIVE CAMPAIGN

ΤΟ AND ADVERTISE THE HIRING OF SUCH

FAMILIARISE EMPLOYERS

WITH THIS CONCEPT.

PERSONS

DR LEONG CHE-HUNG SPEAKS ON HEALTH POLICY

*

HONG KONG'S HEALTH POLICY SHOULD BE AIMED AT PROVIDING THE BEST QUALITY OF HEALTH SERVICES AFFORDABLE TO THOSE IN NEED AND ΤΟ THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL, DR THE HON LEONG CHE-HUNG SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THIS FUNDAMENTAL

CONCEPT SHOULD IN NO WAY BE ADULTERATED DESPITE THE SETTING UP OF THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY OR ANY OTHER AUTHORITIES TO TAKE CARE OF THE HEALTH NEEDS IN THE FUTURE, DR LEONG TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DURING THE BUDGET DEBATE.

HE SAID THAT MAINTAINING THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY SHOULD NEVER BE CONSIDERED A BUSINESS EXERCISE. INSTEAD, IT WAS A MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURAL EXERCISE, FOR WITHOUT HEALTH, STABILITY AND PROSPERITY COULD BE MEANINGLESS.

IT WAS INDEED IRONIC THAT BEHIND ALL THE GLAMOUR OF THE ADVANCEMENT AND SOPHISTICATED FACILITIES IN HONG KONG, OUR PUBLIC HOSPITALS WERE OVERFLOWING WITH CAMP-BEDS, OUR OUTPATIENT CLINICS WERE SWARMED WITH PEOPLE QUEUEING TO BE TREATED AND PATIENTS HAVING TO WAIT SOME NINE MONTHS TO A YEAR FOR AN APPOINTMENT ΤΟ

ATTEND SPECIALIST CLINICS, HE SAID.

/"IT IS