XN000022-1990-07-25 — Page 22

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 25,

WELCOMING THE INTRODUCTION OF THE BILL, MRS LAM SAID THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONAL HOSPITAL AUTHORITY REPORT WOULD CREATE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE PUBLIC HOSPITAL SYSTEM,

SHE POINTED OUT THAT THE REGIONAL ADVISORY BOARD WOULD COMPARE THE EFFICIENCY OF EACH HOSPITAL AND ADVISE ON THE NEED FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF HOSPITAL SERVICES IN THE REGION.

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"THIS COMMUNITY FEEDBACK WILL CREATE A JOINT EFFORT TO IMPROVE SERVICES TO PATIENTS, SHE SAID, ADDING THAT THESE IMPROVEMENTS IN MANAGEMENT WOULD NOT ONLY INCREASE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE SERVICES BUT ALSO MAINTAIN HIGH MORALE AMONG THE MEDICAL STAFF AND ENSURE THEIR EXPERTISE WOULD BE CORRECTLY USED.

MRS LAM SAID IT WOULD ALSO ATTRACT AMBITIOUS YOUNG PROPLE WHO WOULD FIND IT MEANINGFUL AND WORTHWHILE TO JOIN THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY, THROUGH WHICH THEY COULD CONTRIBUTE THEIR SERVICES FOR THE WELL-BEING OF THE PEOPLE.

FOUNDATION FOR REORGANISING HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY BILL 1990, IF TREATED PROPERLY, BECOME THE FOUNDATION FOR REORGANISING THE OVERALL HEALTH CARE IN HONG KONG IN THE FUTURE.

COULD

SYSTEM

HOWEVER, THE BILL WOULD BE SUPERFLUOUS IF IT WERE TO ESTABLISH A HOSPITAL AUTHORITY (HA) THAT WOULD NOT WORK, DR THE HON LEONG CHE-HUNG SAID DURING THE DEBATE ON THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

DR LEONG, WHO SUPPORTED THE BILL WITH RESERVATIONS, SAID THAT THERE HAD BEEN FEW, IF ANY, DISSENTING VOICES ARGUING AGAINST THE PRINCIPLES OF THE HA.

THE HONG KONG MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AND THE GOVERNMENT DOCTORS' ASSOCIATION HAD CONSISTENTLY SUPPORTED THE HA CONCEPT, DR LEONG SAID, ADDING THAT EVEN PRESSURE GROUPS HAD NOT CHALLENGED THIS PRINCIPLE.

YET, THERE WERE CALLS FOR DEFERMENT OR EVEN SCRAPPING OF THE BILL, HE NOTED.

DR LEONG HELD THAT IT WAS NOT THE MANAGEMENT CONCEPT OF THE НА THAT HAD CAUSED CONFUSION BUT THE LACK OF POLICY VISION IN REVAMPING THE ENTIRE MEDICAL SERVICES.

/SIMILARLY, THE