XN000022-1991-11-13 — Page 32

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1991

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT ALLOWANCE FOR TENDER PRICE INFLATION AT 7.5 PER CENT PER ANNUM FOR PROJECTS TO BE LET OUT IN 1992/93 HAD BREN TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT AS WELL AS THE INCLUSION OF CONSTRUCTION COSTS OF $56.5 MILLION FOR THE NEW ONE-PERSON ANNEX BLOCKS.

HE POINTED OUT THAT ALTHOUGH THE AUTHORITY WILL INCUR A SMALL DEFICIT ON ITS ESTATE WORKING ACCOUNT IN 1992/93, A WORKING CASH BALANCE OF SOME $1.4 BILLION BY MARCH 1993 WAS FORECAST.

THIS BALANCE IS DETERMINED AFTER TAKING INTO ACCOUNT AN OPENING CASH BALANCE OF $4.5 BILLION, CAPITAL EXPENDITURE, THE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE SURPLUS AND DEPRECIATION.

"IN THIS REGARD THE AUTHORITY WILL NOT NEED TO SEEK FUNDING

FROM OUTSIDE LOANS IN 1992/93," HE ADDED.

THE TWO BUDGETS WOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR FOR HIS FORMAL APPROVAL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE HOUSING ORDINANCE AFTER ENDORSEMENT BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY LATER THIS MONTH.

MEDICAL REFORMS ATTUNED TO NEEDS OF 21ST CENTURY

THE GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED то THREE MAJOR REFORMS IN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH FIELD SO THAT THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE A HEALTH SYSTEM WHICH WILL BE WELL ATTUNED TO THE NEEDS OF THE 21ST CENTURY.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG WHEN ADDRESSING THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE SECOND REGIONAL CONGRESS (WESTERN-PACIFIC REGION) OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLOOD TRANSFUSION AT THE HONG KONG CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE THIS (WEDNESDAY) EVENING.

WILL TAKE OVER THE IN HONG KONG IN

MRS WONG SAID THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF ALL THE PUBLIC HOSPITALS LESS THAN THREE WEEKS TIME.

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"IT IS A GRAND TASK AFFECTING SOME 35 HOSPITALS AND 35,000 STAFF WHICH WILL PERMIT THE BETTER DEPLOYMENT OF RESOURCES AND THE ELIMINATION OF OVERCROWDING IN OUR HOSPITALS, SHE NOTED..

THE SECOND AREA OF REFORM IS DIRECTED

TOWARDS PRIMARY HEALTH

CARE.

THE GOVERNMENT BELIEVES THAT GIVEN A GOOD INFRASTRUCTURAL SUPPORT IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE AND AN EMPHASIS IN PARTICIPATORY AND

AND SELF-CARE, THE PUBLIC WILL BECOME HEALTHIER

THE HOSPITALS LESS CROWDED; AND THAT PUBLIC SPENDING ON TOTAL HEALTH CARE CAN ACHIEVE A BETTER BALANCE BETWEEN PREVENTION AND CURE.

/MRS WONG