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Following is the transcript of remarks (English portion) made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, after attending a radio programme this morning (March 16):
Reporter: (On increase of fees by private hospitals)
Secretary for Food and Health: I cannot exclude the possibility that some of the private hospitals are adjusting their fees because of our "zero quota policy", not allowing Mainland pregnant women whose husbands are not Hong Kong permanent residents for delivery in private hospitals. I think the consideration of individual private hospitals will be based on different factors affecting them. The change or fluctuation in the utilisation pattern of individual private hospitals is only one of the factors that the hospitals may take into consideration in terms of whether their fees and charges policy need to be adjusted.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Saturday, March 16, 2013
Issued at HKT 14:55
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