XN000022-1990-06-20 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1990

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HOSPITAL AUTHORITY BRINGS BENEFITS TO COMMUNITY

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THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID THAT CONCERNS OVER PARTICULAR ASPECTS

IN ESTABLISHING THE HOSPITAL

AUTHORITY SHOULD NOT LEAD HONG KONG TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE BENEFITS IT WOULD BRING TO THE COMMUNITY.

SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY WEST TODAY (WEDNESDAY), MRS WONG OUTLINED THE SETTING UP THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY.

CLUB OF KOWLOON MAIN BENEFITS OF

SHE POINTED OUT THAT THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY WOULD PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK FOR BRINGING THE EXISTING GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS TOGETHER IN AN INTEGRATED PUBLIC HOSPITAL SYSTEM, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME PRESERVING THE TRADITIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS INDIVIDUAL HOSPITALS.

OF

"THIS WILL ENABLE THE BEST USE ΤΟ BE MADE OF BACH HOSPITAL'S FACILITIES, WITH BETTER CO-ORDINATION AND DEPLOYMENT OF MANPOWER AND RESOURCES, SHE SAID.

MRS WONG SAID THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY'S SECOND BENEFIT ΤΟ THI COMMUNITY WOULD BE THE GREATER FLEXIBILITY AND QUICKER RESPONSE ΤΟ CHANGING DEMANDS THAN WOULD OTHERWISE BE POSSIBLE IF CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS WERE TO APPLY.

THE THIRD BENEFIT WAS THAT A MORE EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WOULD BE INTRODUCED, PROVIDING FOR GREATER DEVOLUTION OF AUTHORITY FROM THE CENTRAL TO THE OPERATIONAL LEVELS.

"THE NEW SYSTEM WILL SEEK TO DRAW UPON THE DIFFERENT SKILLS THAT VARIOUS GRADES OF STAFF CAN CONTRIBUTE AND ENGENDER A CO-OPERATIVE TEAM SPIRIT, SHE SAID.

ГГ

FINALLY, THE NEW SYSTEM WOULD PROVIDE AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND SCRUTINY IN THE OPERATION OF PUBLIC HOSPITAL SERVICE.

OF THE

THE NEW MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND MANAGEMENT CONCEPT HOSPITAL AUTHORITY WOULD BRING ABOUT INCREASED EFFICIENCY, BETTER ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES AND IMPROVED CONDITIONS IN HOSPITAL WARDS, SHE POINTED OUT.

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HAVING STATED THE BENEFITS THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS TRYING ΤΟ ACHIEVE, MRS WONG PROCEEDED то DISPEL CERTAIN MISCONCEPTIONS THE FIRST BEING THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS AIMING ΤΟ RELINQUISH ITS RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCING PUBLIC HOSPITALS.

TRUTH. GOVERNMENT

"NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE EXPENDITURE ON PUBLIC HOSPITAL SERVICES HAS RISEN EVERY YEAR AND NOW STANDS AT SOME $6 BILLION.

**SETTING UP THE HOSPITAL

AUTHORITY MAY COST $2 BILLION IN

AND

ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE AND CASH OUTFLOW, FORECAST IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

FURTHER

GROWTH

IS

/"IN ORDER