XN000022-1992-10-07 — Page 32

15

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1992

THE CURRENT RULE, ALLOWING 45 DAYS ABSENCE FROM THE TERRITORY FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS AND 119 DAYS ABSENCE FOR SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE RECIPIENTS BEFORE BENEFITS WERE SUSPENDED, WOULD BE CHANGED TO 180 DAYS FOR ALL ELDERLY AND DISABLED RECIPIENTS.

"AS A RESULT, OUR ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SPEND MORK TIME WITH THEIR RELATIVES IN SOUTHERN CHINA, FOR EXAMPLE, WILL BE ABLE ΤΟ DO SO MORE EASILY THAN IN THE PAST,'

" HE SAID.

MR PATTEN SAID THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE AND THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE WOULD PROVIDE LEGCO MEMBERS WITH FULL DETAILS OF THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM ON SATURDAY.

THERE WOULD BE CONSIDERABLE ADMINISTRATIVE PREPARATIONS TO COMPLETE. NEVERTHELESS, HE SAID HE HAD INSTRUCTED THAT THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD COME INTO EFFECT FROM JULY 1, NEXT YEAR, OF COURSE, TO THE LEGCO'S APPROVAL OF THE FUNDING.

SUBJECT,

MEDICAL CLINIC WAITING TIMES TO BE REDUCED

AT

THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO PROVIDE MORE MEDICAL FACILITIES AND THE SAME TIME IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF SERVICE FOR PATIENTS, IN

ESPECIALLY REDUCING WAITING TIMES AT CLINICS, THE GOVERNOR, THE CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

RT HON

"NO ONE SHOULD

THE

TO GO ON TO ALL ADDRESS ΤΟ

DOUBT THE GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT IMPROVING

QUALITY OF THE MEDICAL SERVICES AVAILABLE SECTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY,' MR PATTEN SAID IN HIS POLICY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

"I

HE SAID: "IN THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR, SUBJECT TO THIS COUNCIL'S APPROVAL, WE SHALL INCREASE THE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH BY 4% IN REAL TERMS. THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY WILL RECEIVE CLOSE TO 8% EXTRA.

"BETWEEN NOW AND 1997, WE PLAN TO RAISE RECURRENT SPENDING HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING HOSPITAL SERVICES, BY 22% IN REAL TERMS.

ON

PROVIDE AN

"THESE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WILL ENABLE US TO ADDITIONAL 4,200 HOSPITAL BEDS, TO OPEN 13 NEW CLINICS AND TO EXPAND 11 EXISTING CLINICS."

MR PATTEN SAID WHILE THIS AMOUNTED TO A REAL AND

COMMITMENT GOVERNMENT

SUSTAINED

THE

THE

TO IMPROVING OUR GENERAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES, MUST DO MORE THAN SIMPLY INCREASE THE QUANTITY OF SERVICES AVAILABLE.

PATIENTS.

"WE MUST ALSO RAISE THE QUALITY OF SERVICE WE OFFER

WE INTEND TO START WITH PATIENT CARE.

OUR

/"THE FIRST