XN000022-1992-03-18 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 1992

SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN HEALTH AND WELFARE

EXPENDITURE FOR 1992/93

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THE

$22.56 BILLION SOUGHT FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE SERVICES IN 1992/93 REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF $4.16 BILLION, OR 23 PER CENT OVER LAST YEAR'S REVISED ESTIMATES, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE

THIS INCREASED PROVISION WILL ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO SUSTAIN INITIATIVES WHICH HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE OVER THE PAST YEARS AND TO INTRODUCE FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY.

"LAST YEAR, WE INTRODUCED MAJOR REFORMS AND INITIATIVES," WONG SAID, "THIS YEAR, WE WILL IMPLEMENT AND DEVELOP THEM.'

MRS

"AT THE SAME TIME, OF COURSE, WE ARE MINDFUL OF OUR DUTY TO THE PUBLIC TO MAKE THE BEST USE OF TAXPAYERS' MONEY. WE WILL CONTINUE ΤΟ MAKE OUR OPERATIONS MORE EFFICIENT AND MANAGE RESOURCES BETTER."

FINANCE

MRS WONG WAS SPEAKING AT THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE WHICH STARTED TODAY TO CONSIDER THE GOVERNMENT'S EXPENDITURE PROPOSALS FOR 1992/93.

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IN HONG FROM $8.2

SHE SAID EXPENDITURE ON HEALTH AND WELFARE SERVICES KONG OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS HAD MORE THAN DOUBLED BILLION IN 1987/88 TO $18.4 BILLION IN 1991/92.

IN REAL TERMS, THIS REPRESENTS AN OVERALL INCREASE OF 42 PER CENT OVER THE FIVE-YEAR PERIOD OR AN AVERAGE ANNUAL GROWTH RATE OF 9.2 PER CENT.

DURING THIS TIME. THE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN MAJOR STRIDES FORWARD IN INITIATING REFORMS.

THESE INCLUDED, ON THE SOCIAL WELFARE FRONT, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS CONTAINED IN THE WHITE PAPER ON SOCIAL WELFARE INTO THE 1990S AND BEYOND, AND THE PUBLICATION OF THE GREEN PAPER ON REHABILITATION SERVICES RECENTLY WHICH WILL PROVIDE THE BLUEPRINT FOR THE REHABILITATIVE SERVICES IN THE YEARS TO COME.

TAKEN

HAS

ON THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SIDE, THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY OVER THE MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF ALL PUBLIC HOSPITALS SINCE DECEMBER 1, 1991.

A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE AND ORAL CARE HAS ALSO BEEN COMPLETED, RESULTING IN 150 RECOMMENDATIONS ARE EITHER BEING IMPLEMENTED OR TO BE FURTHER DEVELOPED.

HEALTH WHICH

TURNING TO THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR, MRS WONG SAID OUT OF THE PROVISION OF $22.56 BILLION, $8 BILLION WOULD BE SPENT ON SOCIAL WELFARE.

/LEAVING ASIDE