XN000022-1991-05-01 — Page 29

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 1991

AS FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE NUMBER OF CASES WAS 544 IN 1987/88 AND 577 IN 1988/89.

SINCE THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT WAS DIVIDED HOSPITAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ON 1989, THE NUMBER OF REFUND CASES IN 1989/90 WAS 521 FOR THE SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND 24 FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

REFUND

INTO THE APRIL

1,

HOSPITAL

THE LONGEST REFUND TIME TAKEN FOR THE HOSPITAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT WAS 211 DAYS AND THE SHORTEST TIME TAKEN WAS FIVE MINUTES.

FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE LONGEST TIME TAKEN TO EFFECT REFUNDS WAS 45 DAYS WHILE THE SHORTEST 12 DAYS.

THERE WAS ONLY ONE REFUND CASE (IN 1988/89) FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT OVER THE THREE-YEAR PERIOD AND THE TIME REQUIRED WAS 53 DAYS.

MR MACLEOD NOTED THAT THE FIGURES, IN THE CASE OF THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT, INDICATED ONLY THE AVERAGE PROCESSING TIME TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT ITSELF AND DID NOT INCLUDE THE TWO TO THREE WEEKS THAT THE TREASURY MIGHT HAVE TAKEN TO EFFECT THE PAYMENTS.

HE ADDED THAT BECAUSE OF THE LARGE NUMBER OF TRANSACTIONS INVOLVED, THE ACTUAL LONGEST AND SHORTEST PROCESSING TIME WAS NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT.

MOTION ON REVIEW OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY PASSED

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A MOTION ON THE REVIEW OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY WAS PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE MOTION, MOVED BY DR THE HON C.H. LEONG, READ: "THIS COUNCIL URGES THE ADMINISTRATION ON THIS INTERNATIONAL LABOUR DAY THAT A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY BE CONDUCTED WITH URGENCY. IN PARTICULAR THREE ASPECTS MUST BE EXPLORED: HAZARD PREVENTION; DISABILITY ASSESSMENT AND COMPENSATION; AND REHABILITATION.'

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FOURTEEN MEMBERS, INCLUDING THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE AND THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, SPOKE ON THE MOTION.

MEANWHILE, 15 NON-GOVERNMENT MEMBERS SPOKE IN AN ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE MATTER OF "CONSIDERATION BY THE GOVERNMENT OF PROVISION TO ENABLE A CONCESSIONARY FARES SYSTEM FOR ALL SENIOR CITIZENS OF 65 YEARS OF AGE AND OVER BY ALL MAJOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT COMPANIES' RAISED BY THE HON J.D. MCGREGOR. THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE SPOKE ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT.

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/IN ADDITION

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