Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ12: HA's proposal to provide consultancy services to Mainland

        Following is a question by the Hon Chan Yuen-han and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, in the Legislative Council today (June 23):

 

Question:

 

        It has been reported that the Hospital Authority (HA) is studying the feasibility of a plan to provide consultancy services to Mainland healthcare institutions to generate additional income to help ease its budgetary constraints.  In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether it knows:

 

(a)    the initial outline of the plan, including the number of health care workers required, and how HA will deploy the manpower to implement the plan; and

 

(b)    the amount of income that HA forecasts this plan will generate each year?

 

 

Reply:

 

Madam President,

 

(a)    The conclusion of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) between the Central Government and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has opened up new opportunities in the Mainland for our medical services sector.  The HA is at a very preliminary stage of studying the detailed provisions of the Agreement and assessing its potential implications and benefits within the context of HA's statutory functions and objectives and the Government's health policies.  At present, the HA does not have any plans for providing consultancy services to healthcare institutions in the Mainland.

 

(b)    Since the HA does not have any plans for providing consultancy services to healthcare institutions in the Mainland, the question of income does not arise.

 

Ends/Wednesday, June 23, 2004

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