XN000022-1992-03-18 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 1992

LEAVING ASIDE THE PROVISION IN ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS, SHE SAID, RECURRENT EXPENDITURE IN THIS PROGRAMME AREA IS ESTIMATED TO BR $6.7 BILLION OR A REAL INCREASE OF 3.6 PER CENT OVER THE REVISED ESTIMATE FOR 1991/92 AND AN INCREASE OF 10.8 PER CENT OVER THE APPROVED ESTIMATE IN THE SAME YEAR.

"IT TESTIFIES TO OUR CONTINUAL EFFORT TO PROMOTE THE INTERESTS

OF THE NEEDY IN THE COMMUNITY, MRS WONG STRESSED.

THIS YEAR'S ESTIMATE ON SOCIAL WELFARE ALSO INCLUDES $79.5 MILLION OF "NEW MONEY" $44.3 MILLION TO IMPLEMENT 84 NEW PROJECTS AND $35.2 MILLION TO FUND RECENTLY-INTRODUCED SERVICES ON A FULL YEAR BASIS IN 1992/93.

THE NEW RESOURCES WILL BE USED:

* TO

IMPLEMENT THE PROPOSALS SET OUT IN THE WHITE PAPER ON SOCIAL WELFARE INTO THE 1990S AND BEYOND;

* TO MEET THE GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO

SOCIAL SECURITY,

INCLUDING THE EXPECTED INCREASE IN CASELOAD AND REVISION RATES OF PAYMENT IN LINE WITH INFLATION;

OF

* TO CONTINUE THE GROWTH IN PROVISION OF SERVICES FOR FAMILIES,

THE ELDERLY AND THE DISABLED; AND

* TO SUBVENT NON-GOVERNMENTAL

EXPANSION OF SERVICES.

WELFARE AGENCIES FOR

THE

ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET IS THE CONVERSION OF GRANTS FOR EX-PRISONERS OF WAR AND WAR VETERANS INTO PENSIONS AS OF RIGHT.

A NEW SUBHEAD HAS BEEN CREATED TO MEET PAYMENTS KONG WAR MEMORIAL PENSIONS ORDINANCE WHICH CAME INTO DECEMBER 1, 1991.

UNDER THE HONG OPERATION ON

TURNING TO THE HEALTH SIDE, THE SECRETARY SAID $14.5 BILLION SOUGHT FOR THE HEALTH PROGRAMME, $11.3 ESTIMATED TO BE USED ON RECURRENT EXPENDITURE.

OUT OF THE BILLION WAS

THIS SHOWS A REAL INCREASE OF 9.4 PER CENT OVER THE 1991/92 REVISED ESTIMATE AND AN INCREASE OF 19.5 PER CENT OVER THE SAME YEAR'S APPROVED ESTIMATE.

ENHANCE

THE BULK OF THE PROVISION SOUGHT WILL GO ΤΟ THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY (HA) WHICH 18 POISED TO IMPLEMENT REFORMS, EFFICIENCY AND MAXIMISE THE USE OF RESOURCES FOR BETTER QUALITY PATIENT CARE.

"IT HAS PLANS FOR INTRODUCING MANAGEMENT REFORMS 'PILOT' HOSPITALS, FOR ESTABLISHING 'CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE' IMPROVING THE HOSPITAL INFORMATION SYSTEM, MRS WONG SAID.

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IN EIGHT

AND FOR

"THE HA SHOULD GET $10.265 BILLION IN BLOCK VOTES. THIS WILL ENABLE IT TO GET OFF TO A GOOD START

BUT CERTAINLY NOT OFF THE HOOK."

——

/FOR 1992/93