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Mr President, under its remit the KCRC is obliged to conduct its business in accordance with prudent commercial principles. What I have just said about the MTRC equally applies to the KCRC. We must maintain the existing arrangements to enable the KCRC to benefit from capital markets, particularly for the Western Corridor Railway project which is in the pipeline.

The Corporation has continued to operate very successfully over the past year. I congratulate the Chairman, its Managing Board as well as the management and staff of the Corporation for their achievements during the past year.

End

Shortage of clinical psychologists

Following is a question by the Hon Law Chi-kwong and a reply by the Secretary for Health and Welfare, Mrs Katherine Fok, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

In regard to the shortage of occupational therapists and physiotherapists in non- governmental rehabilitation institutions, will the Government inform this Council:

(a)

(b)

(c)

of the establishment, strength and vacancies in various ranks of the occupational therapist and physiotherapist grades in hospitals managed by the Hospital Authority and in the Social Welfare Department as at 31 December 1995;

of the establishment, strength and vacancies in various ranks of the occupational therapist and physiotherapist grades in non-governmental rehabilitation institutions, including early education and training centres, special child care centres and special schools as at 31 December 1995;

whether consideration has been given to granting a hardship allowance to occupational therapists and physiotherapists in non-governmental rehabilitation institutions in order to make the pay package offered by these institutions more attractive, thereby easing the manpower shortage?