XN000022-1992-01-22 — Page 6

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1992

REVIEW ON HOSPITAL BEDS REQUIREMENT BEING CONDUCTED

THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY IS CARRYING OUT A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW NEXT ON THE REQUIREMENT FOR PUBLIC HOSPITAL BEDS IN HONG KONG FOR THE

MRS ELIZABETH WONG, 10 YEARS, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

TIK CHI-YUEN,

OF THE CURRENT AND A PRIORITISATION OF

MR IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MRS WONG SAID THE REVIEW INVOLVES AN ASSESSMENT FUTURE REQUIREMENT FOR PUBLIC HOSPITAL BEDS AND THE CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMME FOR THE COMING DECADE.

CHANGES TO IN THE

MRS WONG POINTED OUT THAT THE REVIEW MAY RESULT IN THE SCOPE AND TIMING OF

VARIOUS THE

CURRENTLY PROJECTS GOVERNMENT'S HOSPITAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME.

AUTHORITY SHE SAID: "ON COMPLETION OF THE REVIEW, THE HOSPITAL

AND PROGRAMME PRIORITIES WILL RECOMMEND TO THE GOVERNMENT THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECTS IN GOVERNMENT'S HOSPITAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME."

WAY

PROCESSED IN THE NORMAL "THESE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE

BE UNDERTAKEN BEFORE AND, WHERE APPROPRIATE, DUE CONSULTATION WILL DECISIONS ARE MADE," SHE ADDED.

ADEQUATE STAFF TO HANDLE BILL OF RIGHTS WORK

* * * * *

THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT WILL ENSURE THAT ADEQUATE STAFF WILL BE DEPLOYED TO MEET THE WORKLOAD GENERATED BY THE BILL OF RIGHTS, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR JEREMY MATHEWS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON JAMES TO, MR MATHEWS SAID WHILST ALL COUNSEL IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT MIGHT HAVE ΤΟ DEAL WITH LEGAL ISSUES RELATING TO THE BILL OF RIGHTS FROM TIME TO TIME, TWO UNITS HAD BEEN SET UP WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT SPECIFICALLY TO HANDLE BILL OF RIGHTS WORK.

THE TWO UNITS, EACH HEADED BY A DEPUTY PRINCIPAL CROWN COUNSEL, ARE IN THE LEGAL POLICY DIVISION AND THE PROSECUTIONS DIVISION, THE UNIT IN THE FORMER IS SUPERVISED BY THE DEPUTY SOLICITOR GENERAL AND THAT IN THE LATTER BY A DEPUTY CROWN PROSECUTOR.

MR MATHEWS SAID ONE SENIOR CROWN COUNSEL WOULD JOIN THE BILL OF RIGHTS UNIT IN THE LEGAL POLICY DIVISION UPON HIS RETURN THIS SUMMER FROM HIS ONE-YEAR SECONDMENT WITH THE HUMAN RIGHTS CENTRE OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN GENEVA.

/"POSITIONS IN