One month ago, Harvard economics professor William Hsiao was keeping his fingers crossed that his diagnosis for Hong Kong's medical system would be made public and he would be able to explain it to the people it was aimed at.
On Sunday, speaking before returning to Boston at the end of a week-long visit, Professor Hsiao was much more relaxed. He considered his job was done. There was general support, he said, for the Harvard findings. It was now up to the Government and the community to decide on the way forward.
The renowned academic, whose study was commissioned by the Health and Welfare Bureau in November 1997, argues that planning a health-care system for the SAR is no more difficult than in other places. 'What's more difficult,' he admitted, 'is that every step along the way our findings have been challenged - that our evidences are not sufficient, we got the wrong evidence, or we don't understand Hong Kong.
'I'm happy our report was released publicly. We were given the opportunity to explain it to the community: how we did it, what we found, what the options are. A month ago, I was not confident that would happen.' Released on Monday last week for a three-month-long consultation, the Harvard report has drawn a mixed response. Its prescription for the medical sector over such problems as compartmentalisation of services and abuses in fees and medicines by private doctors was no major surprise.
Criticism mainly centred on a two-part mandatory insurance scheme and savings programme that will eat up between 2.5 to three per cent of the monthly wage of employees although employers will contribute part of it. 'It is fair to say there are more questions for clarification rather than criticisms,' Professor Hsiao said.
Critics says the mandatory contribution plan will place the bulk of the health bill at the door of the middle class. 'If I lived in Hong Kong, I would be a middle-class resident. I would ask the same question. The answer is simple: the middle class people would benefit regardless of which option Hong Kong takes, including doing nothing.