XN000022-1989-11-02 — Page 12

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1989

MRS LAU WELCOMED THE GOVERNMENT'S INITIATIVE IN REGARD ΤΟ THE ENACTMENT OF A BILL OF RIGHTS.

WHAT WORRIED HER TO SOME EXTENT WAS THE FACT THAT THERE WOULD BE A FREEZE PERIOD, AS YET UNDEFINED, AFTER ENACTMENT OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS WHEN EXISTING LAWS COULD NOT BE CHALLENGED AGAINST THE STANDARD OF THE NEW BILL.

SHE SUGGESTED THAT THE FREEZE PERIOD SHOULD NOT EXCEED TWO YEARS, AND THAT WORK ON REVIEWING EXISTING LEGISLATION SHOULD COMMENCE WITHOUT AWAITING ENACTMENT OF THE BILL.

THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALSO GIVE SOME FORM OF UNDERTAKING THAT PENDING FULL ENACTMENT OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS, IT WOULD REFRAIN FROM ENFORCING THOSE EXISTING LAWS WHICH WERE INCONSISTENT WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE BILL.

HEALTH POLICY NEEDS COMPLETE REVIEW

THERE IS A REAL AND URGENT NEED FOR A COMPLETE REVIEW OF THE HEALTH POLICY IN HONG KONG, DR THE HON LEONG CHE-HUNG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY).

DR LEONG SAID IN THE POLICY DEBATE THAT THE FAULTS OF THE EXISTING MEDICAL SERVICE LAY IN THE GOVERNMENT'S FAILURE TO DEMONSTRATE A STRONG COMMITMENT IN THE DELIVERY OF A SATISFACTORY MEDICAL SERVICE, AND IN THE LACK OF A WORKABLE POLICY FOR NOW, AND

THE FUTURE.

"IT IS EXACTLY THESE TWO FAULTS THAT BROUGHT ABOUT THE DISCONTENT OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE DOCTORS CULMINATING IN THEIR INDUSTRIAL ACTION; THE DISPUTE OF THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE; THE SHAMBLES OF THE GOVERNMENT CLINICS AND HOSPITALS; THE WASTAGE RATE OF GOVERNMENT DOCTORS, THE OVER-SUPPLY OF DENTISTS AND, OF COURSE, THE DISSATISFACTION OF THE PUBLIC," HE SAID.

DR LEONG SAID IT WOULD REQUIRE A LOT OF

THIS SITUATION.

HARD WORK TO REMEDY

HE SAID THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY, THE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE WORKING PARTY AND THE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE WERE IMPORTANT BUT THEY WOULD NOT WORK WITHOUT FIRM GOVERNMENT CONVICTION,

H

IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD DEFINE ITS ULTIMATE OBJECTIVES IN THE PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE, HE SAID.

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THE LAST WHITE PAPER ON MEDICAL POLICY: "FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES IN HONG KONG WAS PUBLISHED SOME 15 YEARS AGO AND ANOTHER REVIEW WAS LONG OVERDUE, DR LEONG SAID.

/DR LEONG