By LIANG TAO, CRI Correspondent

Hong Kong Hospital Authority Chairman Anthony Wu hopes 70% to 80% of public hospital doctors will support the 630 million Hong Kong dollar package which compensates them for work on public holidays.

Speaking on a local radio program, Wu said the package is the best the authority can offer, adding it is not likely to raise the amount further as it would require more public money.

He said the authority is working hard on plans to improve physicians' working conditions and prospects.

Moves include limiting the weekly work hours to 65, and raising the entry salary of the new recruits this year. It will continue to discuss these plans with the doctors' representatives.

Noting there is a high turnover rate for doctors, Wu said the authority will continue to implement a scheme which allows the doctors who have left to serve in the private sector to work part-time in public hospitals. So far, 90 private doctors have joined the part-time work scheme.

On setting up an electronic medical record system between public and private hospitals, Wu thought it is a good suggestion to encourage across-the-sector co-operation, but argued both patient's piracy and computer security are to be carefully considered first.

He said the authority will assume a cost-recovery approach to the operation of the system once it is finalized.