TNAG-1731-FCO40-2444-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 216

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Written answer to question

visitors

Parthe hospital charges for TT.

Question No. 9

WRITTEN REPLY BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH & WELFARE TO A QUESTION BY DR. THE HON, CONRAD LAM IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY, 18 MAY 1988

Question?

ion

9. DR. LAM asked:

Will Government inform this Council whether there

is a difference in public hospital charges for Hong Kong citizens and visitors; if so, what is the difference, what is the rationale for the difference, and if the scale of charges for visitors is higher, is Government aware that some visitors may not be able to afford them?

SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE:

Sir,

#

With the exception of treatment at Accident and Emergency Departments, which is provided free visitors using

public hospital services in Hong Kong are regarded as

non-entitled patients and are charged medical fees representing

the full cost of any treatment provided. Holders of valid

British passports are exempted from such charges because of a

reciprocal arrangement with the United Kingdom Government which

grants Hong Kong residents access to free medical treatment

under the National Health Service.

While charges for private wards are the same for

both visitors and local residents those for public wards are

different. Visitors being treated in a public ward in a

general hospital are required to pay a composite fee of $950