Remarks by DCS at media session (with photo/video)
The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing; the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak; and the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, met the media this afternoon (December 18) on the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. Following are the remarks at the question-and-answer session:
Reporter: Why did the Government decide to hand out more money to affected homeowners and tenants? Secondly, how likely is the annual rent subsidy for $150,000 to be extended after two years?
Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration: As we have explained in the opening remarks, while the Government has been trying to provide some emergency accommodation for the affected victims, including both landlords and tenants, we have (learned), through the feedback of our social workers assigned to look after individual households and also through district feedback, that many residents actually wanted to have another option of a rental subsidy to be given to them, so that they can, from the private market, rent suitable accommodation, which can fit into their daily routines, such as going to work, going to school, and going to see doctors. Also, because many residents have lived in Tai Po for a long time, they have their social network there. If they stay in the transitional housing elsewhere in Hong Kong, they have this problem of social dislocation. So we decided that - and also we have surveyed the stock of our public housing accommodation in Tai Po - actually we don't have any more such units left. So we think a sensible, practicable and effective solution is really to offer them this rental subsidy, which we think is not an excessive demand; it is reasonable.
Your second question is whether the rental subsidy will end after two years. I think Secretary Mak has already said that we think a normal tenancy lasts for about two years. We believe, within these two years, the final solution, or solutions, for the long-term housing and accommodation needs of the victims will already be offered and introduced. Of course, when the final offers have come out, we have to ascertain the response of the residents. We have two years to consider whether, if necessary, this rental subsidy may continue, but the overarching principle is that we can assure the victims that our solutions will be reasonable and no one will be left homeless - I mean, for the landlords - because of the lack of support from the Government.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)
Remarks by DCS at media session (with photo/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hospital Authority hosts district briefing session to explain Public Healthcare Fees and Charges Reform arrangements
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) conducted another community outreach session today (December 18) ahead of the Public Healthcare Fees and Charges Reform implementation on January 1 next year. HA representatives explained the implementation details to over 200 District Council members and their assistants, aiming to reach more citizens through the extensive community network of District Councils and make the reform arrangements clear to more citizens.
The briefing on Public Healthcare Fees and Charges Reform was held at the Mong Kok Community Hall. The Chief Executive of the HA, Dr Libby Lee, said in her opening remarks, "The HA has been maintaining close communication with various sectors of the community to ensure citizens fully understand the reform arrangements. We understand that members of the public need time to comprehend and adapt to the new arrangements. Therefore, the HA has been strengthening community-level communication. This briefing session allows District Council representatives to further understand the reform details and clarify concerns, including details of the fees and charges, and enhanced measures to protect patients. We hope that District Council members, as an important bridge to the community, can help convey this information to help citizens understand the protection offered by the new measures."
Different HA representatives provided detailed explanations of the new fees and charges arrangements and important points for patients to note after implementation. These included patient journey matters for specialist outpatient clinics and family medicine clinics, non-emergency radiology services, pathology laboratory services, enhanced medical fee waiver mechanisms, the introduction of an annual spending cap of $10,000 for public healthcare fees and charges, and expanded safety nets. The briefing session was engaging, with questions from attendees and HA responses helping to enhance public understanding of the new arrangements. The HA hopes these exchanges will help address concerns about implementation details and assist citizens in utilising various support measures.
Since the announcement of the Public Healthcare Fees and Charges Reform in March this year, the HA has continuously explained the details through various channels, including media briefings, district briefing sessions, patient exchange meetings, focus groups, and hospital workshops. These activities aim to gather public and patient feedback and strengthen understanding of the new fees and charges items and implementation arrangements, hoping for smoother implementation next year. The HA has also produced various educational materials, including promotional videos and information booklets, to help citizens understand the new healthcare protection measures.
The public healthcare fees and charges reform aims to enhance protection for poor, acute, serious, critical patients; rationalise public hospital service subsidies; reduce waste and abuse; and improve the sustainability of the public healthcare system.
Hospital Authority hosts district briefing session to explain Public Healthcare Fees and Charges Reform arrangements Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hospital Authority hosts district briefing session to explain Public Healthcare Fees and Charges Reform arrangements Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
