SECRETARY for Health and Welfare Elizabeth Wong Chien Chi-lien has pledged she will not introduce proposals in a recently-published consultation document on medical fees if they are strongly opposed by the public.
Mrs Wong told a Legislative Council Health Services Panel meeting yesterday that the Government was still consulting the public about proposals in the document, Towards a Better Health.
It has been widely criticised by the public and legislators for introducing higher hospital fees.
But Mrs Wong said it would be ''regrettable'' if the proposals were turned down, as the unfair fee-charging system would not be rectified.
She reiterated that the document's purpose had nothing to do with increasing fees.
The document was meant to rectify the system by basing hospital fees on operating costs, she said.