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Following is a question by the Hon Li Kwok-ying and a written reply by the Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands, Mr Michael Suen, in the Legislative Council today (December 20):
Question:
It has been reported that The Link Management Limited ("The Link") is planning to set up a medical centre in one of its shopping malls, which will group general, dental and specialist clinics as well as medical laboratories together to provide one-stop medical services. The Link also requires some of the clinics in that shopping mall to move to the car park or secluded corners. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether it knows the details of the above plan, and whether The Link will extend this plan to all its shopping malls; if so, of the timetable for implementing this plan in individual shopping mall;
(b) whether it knows the criteria for selecting the site for the above medical centre, and how the needs of people seeking medical treatment have been taken into consideration; and
(c) given that the number of people seeking treatment from Chinese medicine practitioners is increasing, whether it knows if The Link will consider including Chinese medicine clinics in the above medical centre; if so, of the details?
Reply:
Madam President,
Upon its public listing on November 25, 2005, the Link Real Estate Investment Trust (The Link) has become a private entity, whose business strategies and day-to-day operations are entirely independent of the Housing Authority (HA). So long as The Link's operations comply with prevailing legislation, conditions of government leases, and terms of covenants and agreements made between The Link and the HA, the Government and the HA cannot intervene in The Link's day-to-day management, business strategies and mode of operation.
There is no need for the Government or the HA to be apprised of the business development plan of The Link, or the day-to-day business management and contractual agreements between The Link and its tenants. We do not have detailed information about The Link's plan to set up medical centres in its shopping malls, including implementation timetable, site selection criteria or whether Chinese medicine clinics would be included in those medical centres.
Ends/Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Issued at HKT 11:59
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