28 August 1999

Policy Address must do justice to the Hong Kong public

(keywords:- Policy Address, air pollution, Centre for Disease Control, health financing)

          In a few weeks' time, our Chief Executive will be delivering his third Policy Address. In his usual show of concern, Mr Tung has recently called on legislators to hear their views. This is no doubt a commendable gesture. Regrettably, the very short time allotted to each makes a mockery of the exercise. Furthermore, many doubt whether their views, albeit brilliant, will be able to be taken on board in the Policy Address at this eleventh hour.

          Many are, of course, eager to know what hat-tricks Mr Tung will use to pull Hong Kong out of economic woods. Yet, there are three more areas that he must address -- environment, relationship between the Executive Authorities and the legislature, and health care reform.

          Government would say that a whole set of measures to reduce air pollution are ready for the offering -- diesel to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for taxis and light buses, more stringent control of smokey exhaust etc. Regrettably, the bullock cart pace of implementation has been totally unacceptable.

          The diesel-to-LPG scheme can hardly be the panacea for our air pollution, given that taxis only count for 4% of all vehicles on the road. What about the heavy goods trucks, the many buses and others that run on diesel? What about the continuous puffing from the exhaust of idling vehicles? It is high time to combat this through legislation with heavy penalties.

          Neither the food we eat nor the water we drink are totally hygienic. There has been no shortage of reports of food borne infectious diseases, mass food poisoning, and high bacterial colony counts in our water. The saga of avian flu has brought shame. Regrettably, our Government has not learnt from these problems.

          The consistent call for establishing a "Centre of Disease Control" type unit -- to collect and collate local and overseas data, to take up comprehensive disease surveillance -- has been fallen on deaf ears. Neither is the call to set up a comprehensive food and drug centre being accepted. Government would certainly cite the forthcoming new bureau and department on food and environmental hygiene as a big way forward. Whether such approach is effective only time will tell.

          Yet, Government is well advised to patch up, before too late, the future scenario that infectious diseases would come under the ambit of two bureaus and two departments.

          More, in face of the return of various forms of infectious diseases associated with fowls, Government must proceed without delay with a central slaughtering station for all fowls.

          In the last two years, it is a well known fact that the relationship between the Executive Authorities and the legislature has been courteous but strained. Yet, Government has never attempted to ease the tension. The ball is in Government's court!

          In his two previous policy addresses, Mr Tung made reference to the need for health care reform. Now that the Harvard Report consultation period has expired, Government is to come up with another consultation paper on its stance later this year. The appointment of a health care professional and an "outsider" of civil service as Secretary for Health and Welfare is particularly important when a reform is underway, where health care knowledge is essential.

          For these initial, but important, steps to bear fruit, it is imperative that Mr Tung takes a personal lead to instigate the whole Administration to be behind the reform. It will not be easy, for any reform will entail users bearing greater responsibility, hence an adversity in this political climate.

          It is time for Mr Tung and his governing elites to show their political wisdom and courage.

(Hongkong Standard)