XN000022-1993-04-21 — Page 20

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

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FOLLOWING EIGHT MEETINGS, THE GOVERNMENT AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AD HOC GROUP SET UP TO SCRUTINISE THE BILL HAVE AGREED ON A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS.

HOWEVER, MRS WONG SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS CONCERNED OVER ONE AMENDMENT PROPOSED BY THE AD HOC GROUP CONCERNING THE INCLUSION OF "APPROVED SOCIAL WORKER" IN THE CHILD ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE.

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NOTING THAT CHILD ABUSE IS "A COMPLEX AREA OF SOCIAL WORK" THE SECRETARY SAID THE ORIGINAL INTENTION FOR INCLUDING MEDICAL PRACTITIONER AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST IN THE CHILD ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE WAS TO ENSURE MULTI-DISCIPLINARY PROFESSIONAL ADVICE IN PROTECTING A CHILD.

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"SUCH ADVICE, A SECOND OPINION, SHOULD NOT BE CONFINED TO THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION, SHE SAID, STRESSING THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD NO INTENTION WHATSOEVER OF UNDERMINING THE PROFESSIONAL STATUS OR ROLE OF SOCIAL WORKERS.

"IN FACT, THE FINAL DECISION OF WHETHER OR NOT то REMOVE A CHILD SUSPECTED OF BEING ABUSED WOULD ALWAYS REST WITH THE SOCIAL WORKER HANDLING THE CASE.

"THE CHILD ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE WHICH INVOLVES OTHER PROFESSIONALS WILL ASSIST THE FRONTLINE SOCIAL WORKER IN MAKING À DECISION, MRS WONG ADDED.

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MRS WONG ALSO POINTED OUT THAT A SET OF OPERATIONAL QUIDELINES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL WOULD BE ISSUED.

RECORD OF BREAKTHROUGH IN HK'S HEALTH CARE HISTORY

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THE

IN

HOSPITAL AUTHORITY'S FIRST ANNUAL REPORT WAS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) DESCRIBED AS "THE RECORD OF A MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH HISTORY OF HEALTH CARE DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG" BY THE SECRETARY HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG.

THE FOR

TABLING THE REPORT BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MRS WONG SAID THE WORK OF THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY (HA) IN THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 1992 COULD BE CLASSIFIED INTO THREE BROAD AREAS: THE SETTING UP OF A NEW CORPORATE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT 37,000 EMPLOYEES FROM 16 DIFFERENT ORGANISATIONS; THE PREPARATION FOR MANAGEMENT TRANSFER OF 36 PUBLIC HOSPITALS AND 56 SPECIALIST INSTITUTIONS; AND THE PLANNING OF CLINICAL SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS.

IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH A CORPORATE INFRASTRUCTURE CAPABLE OF ASSUMING EFFECTIVE CONTROL OF THE VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS UNDER ITS COMMON MANAGEMENT, THE HA HAS SUCCESSFULLY DEVELOPED A

NEW, UNIFIED SYSTEM CATERING FOR PERSONNEL, ACCOUNTING AND PROCUREMENT FUNCTIONS, MRS WONG SAID.

/"A GREAT

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