1. Hot Issue: The 2014-15 Budget: Expenditure on Public Healthcare 1

2. Introduction A report released by the Working Group on Long-term Fiscal Planning revealed that the issues of ageing population and declining labour force would lead to a slowdown in economic growth and the public revenue of Hong Kong. At present, the three policy areas of education, health and social welfare constitute almost 60 percent of HK’s recurrent expenditure. For public healthcare, the Government has commenced the construction, expansion and redevelopment of hospitals and implemented a number of major complementary projects to prepare for the community’s long long-term demand for healthcare services due to the ageing population. The 2014-15 Budget has also proposed a long-term strategy on public healthcare. It is suggested that individuals’ awareness of public hygiene should be enhanced in order to reduce the demand on public healthcare services. In view that there is a rising trend of the number of young smokers around the world, studies by organizations including the World Health Organization (WHO) pointed out that increasing tobacco duty is an effective means of controlling smoking in order to lower the health risks of the public. Imposing tobacco duty could also help reduce direct medical expenses caused by smoking and second-hand smoking. In view of this, the Budget has also proposed to increase the tobacco duty rate. 2

3. Questions for Enquiries 3. The Government intends to cultivate the public’s awareness of public hygiene so as to reduce the demand on public medical services. To achieve this long-term goal, what practical ways would you suggest? 3 1. Do you think that the proportion of recurrent government expenditure on education, health and social welfare is appropriate? Why? 2. Some people think that the rate of increase in tobacco duty as proposed in the Budget is too low to have any strong deterrent effect on the smokers. Do you agree? Why?

4. Background Question for Enquiry 1  HKSAR. (updated on 26 February, 2014). The 2014-15 Budget. Retrieved from http://www.budget.gov.hk/2014/eng/estimates.htmlhttp://www.budget.gov.hk/2014/eng/estimates.html  Food and Health Bureau, HKSAR. (Updated on 7 April, 2014). Health Expenditure. Retrieved from http://www.fhb.gov.hk/statistics/en/statistics/health_expenditure.htm http://www.fhb.gov.hk/statistics/en/statistics/health_expenditure.htm  Press Releases, HKSAR. (26 February, 2014). Budget Speech by the Financial Secretary. Retrieved from http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201402/26/P201402260322.htm http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201402/26/P201402260322.htm  Information Services Department, HKSAR. (26 February, 2014). Spending to be reined in, revenues broadened. Retrieved from http://www.news.gov.hk/en/categories/finance/html/2014/02/201402 26_105052.shtml?pickList=topstories http://www.news.gov.hk/en/categories/finance/html/2014/02/201402 26_105052.shtml?pickList=topstories 4 Question for Enquiry 2 Question for Enquiry 3 ＞ More info

5. ＞ More info Background  South China Morning Post. (14 December, 2012). Hong Kong’s out- of-pocket medical expenses set to double by 2020. Retrieved from http://www.scmp.com/business/article/1104776/hong-kongs-out- pocket-medical-expenses-set-double-2020 http://www.scmp.com/business/article/1104776/hong-kongs-out- pocket-medical-expenses-set-double-2020  Information Services Department, HKSAR. (9 April, 2013). HK healthcare is a dual-track system. Retrieved from http://www.news.gov.hk/en/record/html/2013/04/20130409_190 409.shtml http://www.news.gov.hk/en/record/html/2013/04/20130409_190 409.shtml  People’s Daily Online. (13 October, 2010). Hong Kong to increase public healthcare expenses. Retrieved from http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90785/7165463.h tml http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90785/7165463.h tml 5 Background Question for Enquiry 1 Question for Enquiry 2 Question for Enquiry 3

6. Background  The Wall Street Journal. (n.d.). Healthcare options in Hong Kong. Retrieved from http://guides.wsj.com/hong-kong/guide-to-hong- kong/health-care/http://guides.wsj.com/hong-kong/guide-to-hong- kong/health-care/  China Daily Hong Kong Edition. (16 January, 2014). We must plan ahead to preserve Hong Kong’s financial reserves. Retrieved from http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/hkedition/2014- 01/16/content_17238328.htm http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/hkedition/2014- 01/16/content_17238328.htm  The Huffington Post. (25 September, 2009). Does Hong Kong have the world’s best healthcare system? Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nathan-lewis/does-hong-kong- have-the-w_b_299907.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nathan-lewis/does-hong-kong- have-the-w_b_299907.html 6 Background ＞ More info Question for Enquiry 1 Question for Enquiry 2 Question for Enquiry 3

7. 1. Do you think that the proportion of recurrent government expenditure on education, health and social welfare is appropriate? Why?  South China Morning Post. (6 May, 2014). Performance of health care facilities needs to be optimised to meet demand. Retrieved from http://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong- china/article/1502475/performance-health-care-facilities-needs-be- optimised-meet http://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong- china/article/1502475/performance-health-care-facilities-needs-be- optimised-meet  School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong. (n.d.). Hong Kong’s Health Spending – 1989 to 2033. Retrieved from http://www.ha.org.hk/haconvention/hac2006proceedings/doc/P2_2.pd f http://www.ha.org.hk/haconvention/hac2006proceedings/doc/P2_2.pd f  Global Post. (1 October, 2013). 8 places that do health care better than the US. Retrieved from http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/health/131001/global- health-care-systems-obamacare http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/health/131001/global- health-care-systems-obamacare 7 Background ＞ More info Question for Enquiry 1 Question for Enquiry 2 Question for Enquiry 3

8.  China Daily Asia. (27 February, 2014). John Tsang warms of looming budget deficit. Retrieved from http://www.chinadailyasia.com/news/2014- 02/27/content_15121023.html http://www.chinadailyasia.com/news/2014- 02/27/content_15121023.html  HSBC. (28 February, 2014). A mature budget for Hong Kong’s mature economy. Retrieved from http://www.hsbcnet.com/gbm/global- insights/insights/2014/a-mature-budget-for-hong-kongs-mature- economy.htmlhttp://www.hsbcnet.com/gbm/global- insights/insights/2014/a-mature-budget-for-hong-kongs-mature- economy.html  South China Morning Post. (19 May, 2014). Filibustering lawmakers say fiscal crisis is government bogeyman. Retrieved from http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1515023/filibustering- lawmakers-say-fiscal-crisis-government-bogeyman http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1515023/filibustering- lawmakers-say-fiscal-crisis-government-bogeyman 8 1. Do you think that the proportion of recurrent government expenditure on education, health and social welfare is appropriate? Why? Background ＞ More info Question for Enquiry 1 Question for Enquiry 2 Question for Enquiry 3

9.  Information Services Department, HKSAR. (September, 2013). Hong Kong: The Facts – Social Welfare. Retrieved from http://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/factsheets/docs/social_welfare.pdf http://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/factsheets/docs/social_welfare.pdf  Information Services Department, HKSAR. (April, 2014). Hong Kong: The Facts – Education. Retrieved from http://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/factsheets/docs/education.pdf http://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/factsheets/docs/education.pdf  The Establishment Post. (22 May, 2014). Asia Education System in Tip-Top Form. Retrieved from http://www.establishmentpost.com/asias-education- system-tip-top-form/http://www.establishmentpost.com/asias-education- system-tip-top-form/  Economic Times. (13 May, 2014). Singapore and Korea take the lead in new- look, QS University Rankings: Asia. Retrieved from http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/203691/8625145.html http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/203691/8625145.html 9 1. Do you think that the proportion of recurrent government expenditure on education, health and social welfare is appropriate? Why? Background ＞ More info Question for Enquiry 1 Question for Enquiry 2 Question for Enquiry 3

10. 2. Some people think that the rate of increase in tobacco duty as proposed in the Budget is too low to have any strong deterrent effect on the smokers. Do you agree? Why?  South China Morning Post. (22 February, 2014). Budget increase in Hong Kong’s tobacco tax likely to be small. Retrieved from http://www.scmp.com/news/hong- kong/article/1432940/budget-increase-hong- kongs-tobacco-tax-likely-be-small http://www.scmp.com/news/hong- kong/article/1432940/budget-increase-hong- kongs-tobacco-tax-likely-be-small  The Standard. (27 February, 2014). Cigarette tax increase not just revenue grab. Retrieved from http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail. asp?we_cat=11&art_id=142952&sid=41678602 &con_type=1&d_str=20140227&fc=4 http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail. asp?we_cat=11&art_id=142952&sid=41678602 &con_type=1&d_str=20140227&fc=4 10 Background ＞ More info Question for Enquiry 1 Question for Enquiry 2 Question for Enquiry 3

11.  Information Services Department, HKSAR. (26 February, 2014). Tobacco duty to rise. Retrieved from http://www.news.gov.hk/en/categories/health/html/201 4/02/20140226_105009.shtml http://www.news.gov.hk/en/categories/health/html/201 4/02/20140226_105009.shtml  China Daily Asia. (21 February, 2014). Focus HK: When the smoke clears. Retrieved from http://www.chinadailyasia.com/focus/2014- 02/21/content_15119846.html http://www.chinadailyasia.com/focus/2014- 02/21/content_15119846.html  Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health. (26 March, 2014). Big tax hike can reduce tobacco use by one-third and prevent 200 million premature deaths. Retrieved from http://www.cosh.org.hk/en/content/web.do?page=news 20140326 http://www.cosh.org.hk/en/content/web.do?page=news 20140326 11 2. Some people think that the rate of increase in tobacco duty as proposed in the Budget is too low to have any strong deterrent effect on the smokers. Do you agree? Why? Background ＞ More info Question for Enquiry 1 Question for Enquiry 2 Question for Enquiry 3

12.  Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health. (26 February, 2014). COSH response to the tobacco control policies proposed by The Budget. Retrieved from http://www.cosh.org.hk/en/content/web.do?page= news20140226 http://www.cosh.org.hk/en/content/web.do?page= news20140226  Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health. (20 February, 2014). Open Letter to Financial Secretary, HKSAR Government: Raising Tobacco Tax to Encourage Smoking Cessation and Prevent Youth Smoking. Retrieved from http://www.smokefree.hk/UserFiles/attachments/n ews/2014/Open_Letter_to_FS_Raising_Tobacco_Tax _Eng.pdf http://www.smokefree.hk/UserFiles/attachments/n ews/2014/Open_Letter_to_FS_Raising_Tobacco_Tax _Eng.pdf 12 2. Some people think that the rate of increase in tobacco duty as proposed in the Budget is too low to have any strong deterrent effect on the smokers. Do you agree? Why? Background ＞ More info Question for Enquiry 1 Question for Enquiry 2 Question for Enquiry 3

13.  South China Morning Post. (5 March, 2013). Hong Kong may be forgetting lessons of Sars. Retrieved from http://www.scmp.com/news/hong- kong/article/1177262/hong-kong-may-be-forgetting- lessons-sarshttp://www.scmp.com/news/hong- kong/article/1177262/hong-kong-may-be-forgetting- lessons-sars  World Health Organization. (5 May, 2014). SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands – WHO’s global annual campaign. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/en/http://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/en/  CNN. (3 May, 2014). Can SARS lessons prevent a MERS virus outbreak? Retrieved from http://edition.cnn.com/2014/05/01/health/mers- virus-sars-lessons/ http://edition.cnn.com/2014/05/01/health/mers- virus-sars-lessons/ 3. The Government intends to cultivate the public’s awareness of public hygiene so as to reduce the demand on public medical services. To achieve this long-term goal, what practical ways would you suggest? 13 Background ＞ More info Question for Enquiry 1 Question for Enquiry 2 Question for Enquiry 3

14.  The Standard. (19 July, 2013). New alert as mosquitoes bite again in Tin Shui Wai. Retrieved from http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?art_id=1357 03&con_type=1 http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?art_id=1357 03&con_type=1  Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health. (May 2014). Hand Hygiene Awareness Day 2014 – The importance of hand hygiene combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Retrieved from http://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/cdw_v11_11.pdfhttp://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/cdw_v11_11.pdf  Public Opinion Programme, The University of Hong Kong. (December, 2012). Personal Hygiene awareness 10 years after SARS survey. Retrieved from http://hkupop.hku.hk/english/report/postSARS/content/bg.ht ml http://hkupop.hku.hk/english/report/postSARS/content/bg.ht ml 14 3. The Government intends to cultivate the public’s awareness of public hygiene so as to reduce the demand on public medical services. To achieve this long-term goal, what practical ways would you suggest? Background ＞ More info Question for Enquiry 1 Question for Enquiry 2 Question for Enquiry 3

15.  Press Releases, HKSAR. (30 May, 2012). LCQ 20:Demand for public medical services. Retrieved from http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201205/30/P2012053 00373.htm http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201205/30/P2012053 00373.htm  Hospital Authority. (2009). Helping People Stay Healthy. Retrieved from http://www.ha.org.hk/upload/publication_29/250.pdf http://www.ha.org.hk/upload/publication_29/250.pdf  Hong Kong Business. (4 June, 2013). Optimizing healthcare assets and developments in Hong Kong. Retrieved from http://hongkongbusiness.hk/healthcare/commentary/red ucing-operational-costs-assets-key-hong-kong-healthcares- success http://hongkongbusiness.hk/healthcare/commentary/red ucing-operational-costs-assets-key-hong-kong-healthcares- success 15 3. The Government intends to cultivate the public’s awareness of public hygiene so as to reduce the demand on public medical services. To achieve this long-term goal, what practical ways would you suggest? Background Question for Enquiry 1 Question for Enquiry 2 Question for Enquiry 3