XN000022-1995-11-08 — Page 9

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* preparing a video, aimed at helping parents to deal with their children's drug

problems.

The Forward Action Plan, a package of 26 measures, was announced by the Governor at the summit meeting to give new impetus to the fight against drugs. The Government pledged itself to another 42-point action plan to follow up the report of the Action Committee Against Narcotics special action group.

End/Wednesday, November 8, 1995

SHW welcomes timely recommendations from Director of Audit

The Secretary for Health and Welfare, Mrs Katherine Fok, today (Wednesday) welcomed the Director of Audit's Report on the Hospital Authority's (HA) remuneration package as timely because it would help focus the Administration's current review on the subject.

"An inter-departmental Working Group, which I chair and comprises representatives from the Civil Service Branch and the Finance Branch, was set up in May this year to look at the remuneration package," Mrs Fok said.

"We set up this Working Group to review the remuneration package upon the expiry of the option period for civil servants to transfer to the HA employment terms.

"Now that the Director of Audit has reported on a number of the issues involved, the Working Group will consider the recommendations carefully as a matter of priority, taking into account the potential impact on quality of patient care, contractual obligations with existing staff and the overall cost to the community."

Mrs Fok said the establishment of HA was a conscious decision aimed to improve the quality of patient care.

She paid tribute to the 42,000 dedicated HA staff who worked hard to bring about the many improvements to hospital services.

The significantly better hospital environment, shortening of waiting times and the introduction of a Patient's Charter are all testimony to the efforts made by the staff.