CLAIMS that there will not be enough money or staff to meet the Governor's pledges to improve the lives of the elderly were rejected yesterday.
The assurance from the Secretary for Health and Welfare, Elizabeth Wong Chien Chi-lien, came amid growing suspicion among legislators that the Government was not equipped to turn Chris Patten's words into deeds.
Legislators asked whether the waiting time for the elderly to be admitted to nursing homes could be significantly shortened.
United Democrat Albert Chan Wai-yip asked Mrs Wong what would be the average waiting time as demand for the services of infirmaries and nursing homes continued to rise.
Mrs Wong said the Government hoped to improve the shortage of spaces, but admitted it would take time.
She was confident the shortage could be cut by 40 per cent by 1997. There is a shortfall of 6,600 places for the elderly.
''What we hope to achieve is . . . to at least remove a major part of the shortfall,'' she said.
