TNAG-1606-FCO40-22121-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 164

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I

accident victims in our public hospitals, when no similar arrangements are made to recover hospital expenses

incurred in treating other types of injuries. Kong, the cost of operating public hospitals has always Traffic accident been a charge to the general revenue.

In Hong

The

victims, like other citizens who require hospital services, should be equally able to enjoy the highly subsidized services provided by the public hospitals. spirit of Section 8, which was modelled on a similar provision in the United Kingdom law, has no relevance in

the local context.

3.

Mr Martin Lee has queried the correctness of the Adminstration's action in suspending the the scheme in 1981, although he concedes that this action was taken on legal advice. I will certainly put his point to the Attorney Gneral, but it seems to me as a layman that the Director was exercising good judgement in discontinuing the scheme when it became clear that its continuation would have resulted in a continuing loss to the public

finances.

4.

Sir, I beg to move.