XN000022-1990-07-25 — Page 19

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 1990

"I BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO JUSTIFY SUCH A DELAY, PARTICULARLY AS THE MAIN REASONS FOR IT DO NOT AFFECT THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL.

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SHE SAID TO TALK ABOUT ALTERNATIVE MEASURES NOW, AS SUGGESTED BY SOME MEMBERS IN THE COUNCIL WOULD BE A LITTLE TOO LITTLE AND A LITTLE TOO LATE.

**IT

IS IRONIC THAT AFTER SOME FIVE YEARS OF TALKING, WHEN WE FINALLY COME TO ACTION, SOME OF US SHOULD HAVE COLD FEET!

"I, FOR ONE, SHARE THE OPTIMISTIC BELIEF THAT WE MUST PLAN FOR OUR FUTURE IN ORDER TO HAVE A FUTURE. WE FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, NOT BECAUSE WE KNOW WE WILL WIN BUT IN ORDER TO WIN," MRS WONG SAID.

"IF WE DO NOT EFFECT REFORM MEASURES NOW, THEN WHEN? DON'T DO THIS THIS WAY, THEN HOW?" SHE ASKED.

HOWEVER, SHE POINTED OUT THAT IT WOULD BE WRONG, IN HER TO UNDERESTIMATE THE MAGNITUDE OF THE MISSION BEFORE US.

IF WE

VIEW,

"THE SETTING UP OF THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY INVOLVES SOME 35,000 PEOPLE WORKING IN 34 HOSPITALS: AND INVOLVING ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE, IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, WE ARE ALL STAKEHOLDERS THE LONG TERM HEALTH OF THE TERRITORY.

IN

**THE PASSAGE OF THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY BILL WILL LEAD OTHER REFORM MEASURES AS MENTIONED IN THIS COUNCIL; LIKE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE, IS ALSO INTER-RELATED WITH THE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE ON WHICH ARE WORKING.

WE

"IT IS A WHOLE PACKAGE OF REFORMS. THE PASSAGE OF THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY BILL WILL NOT ONLY MARK THE BEGINNING OF REFORM OR SHOULD I SAY THE BIRTH OF A NEW LIFE. IT ALSO SIGNIFIES THE BEGINNING OF A LIFE-LONG ENDEAVOUR. MORE OPPORTUNITIES WILL BE THERE, OF COURSE, BUT MORE HARD WORK LIES AHEAD.

"THERE IS NO QUESTION OF RESTING, THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF REAL WORK. THOSE OF US, THEREFORE, WHO HAVE HOPE IN THE FUTURE, WHO ARE PREPARED TO GIVE OUR BEST AND WHO BELIEVE THAT WHAT WE DO IS RIGHT, I THINK WE SHOULD STAND UP NOW AND BE COUNTED," SHE SAID.

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