XN000022-1993-07-14 — Page 18

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 1993.

BALANCE SHEET OF EXCHANGE FUND PUBLISHED

* *

TO

FINANCIAL SECRETARY THE HON HAMISH MACLEOD, IN A STATEMENT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), TABLED THE BALANCE SHEET OF THE EXCHANGE FUND SHOWING THE POSITION AS AT THE END OF 1992.

THIS IS IN KEEPING WITH HIS COMMITMENT MADE IN JULY LAST YEAR TO PUBLISH EVERY YEAR THE EXCHANGE FUND BALANCE SHEET.

BILLION,

AT THE END OF 1992, THE EXCHANGE FUND STOOD AT HK$287 UP 22 PER CENT FROM HK$236 BILLION AT THE END OF 1991. MORE THAN 95 PER CENT OF THE FUND WAS IN FOREIGN CURRENCY ASSETS.

THE ACCUMULATED EARNINGS OF THE FUND AT THE END OF 1992 WAS HK$107 BILLION, COMPARED TO HK$99 BILLION AT THE END OF 1991.

"AT US$36 BILLION, OUR FOREIGN CURRENCY HOLDINGS WERE THE 10TH HIGHEST IN THE WORLD, COMPARED WITH A RANKING OF 12TH AT THE END OF 1991,

MR MACLEOD SAID.

"OUR

PER CAPITA FOREIGN CURRENCY HOLDINGS STOOD AT US$6,000, COMPARED WITH US$5,000 AT THE END OF 1991. THE CORRESPONDING AVERAGE FOR THE OECD COUNTRIES HAS, AS A MATTER OF INTEREST, FALLEN FROM US$740 AT THE END OF 1991 TO US$700 AT THE END OF 1992, HE ADDED.

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IN FUTURE, THE YEAR-END BALANCE SHEET OF THE FUND WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED ON APRIL 1 AND THE ANNUAL REPORT WILL BE TABLED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

0

HEALTH CONSULTATION DOCUMENT OFFERS

SAFETY NET AND MORE CHOICE

ELIZABETH WONG,

THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS REASSURED THE PUBLIC THAT THE CONSULTATION DOCUMENT "TOWARDS BETTER "EALTH" PUBLISHED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WAS NOT A DOCUMENT ABOUT FEE INCREASES.

IN FACT, IT SEEKS TO REMOVE REMEDIABLE FLAWS IN THE EXISTING HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN HONG KONG, RATIONALISE THE FINANCIAL STRUCTURE OF PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES AND OFFERS POSSIBLE OPTIONS FOR CHANGE THE BETTER.

FOR

AS CLEARLY STATED IN THE DOCUMENT, SHE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT'S

OBJECTIVES WERE:

SHOULD BE

ΤΟ ENSURE THAT THE EXISTING POLICY THAT NO ONE DENIED ADEQUATE MEDICAL TREATMENT THROUGH LACK OF MEANS REMAINED PARAMOUNT;

* TO ENSURE INCREASED ACCESSIBILITY, THAT IS, REDUCING WAITING

TIME,

BETTER SERVICES AND MORE ADMINISTRATION AND IMPROVED EFFICIENCY;

CHOICE,

AND

SIMPLER

/*TO ENSURE