ACT
6.2.
Among the items to be required will be equipment for 3 operating theatres 3 major surgery and 5 minor; intensive care and cardiac care units; radio- immunoassay laboratory with gamma counter, liquid scintillation counter, centri- fuges and routine instrumentation, and probably electron microscopes. Multiple gas outlets to each bed; communications to include paging system, pneumatic tubes, facsimile reproduction and closed circuit television. Six ambulances will be required, some with cardiac instruments; facilities generally for laundry, food preparation etc. The hospital is due to he completed by 1978.
7. MISCELLANEOUS
7.1.
It is likely that the radio-therapy facilities at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, at present over 10 years old and including a Siemens Betatron, will be augmented in the near future with a third linear accelerator. Originally the choice. was for a 4 MeV machine but recently there have been thoughts of an 18/20 MeV. It will also probably be necessary to replace the existing Siemens Simulator.
7.2. The importation of pharmaceuticals from China has increased noticeably but to a considerable extent they are bought only by the Chinese population who have come from within China in the past few years and who adhere to their former beliefs as far as medication goes ie based on the usage of herbs; one of the difficulties is the non-recognition of patents by the Chinese. It is probably also worth mentioning that the importation of surgical rubber gloves from China is growing, despite a recent increase in price: deliveries are said to be good.
7.3.
Details of exports to Hong Kong from UK (the year 1970 compared with 1973) and of comparisons between the leading suppliers of medical equipment (and pharmaceuticals) may be seen at Appendices A and B. Considering that within the past 18 months, two new hospitals viz the Princess Margaret and United Christian have been completed and (nearly) fully equipped, the net rewards for the efforts of UK industry should have been very much higher. Other countries viz Australia, USA and Japan in particular are all attempting vigorously to improve their share of the market (whilst the German influence is still present) but the UK industry seems to favour the long range sniping through a local agent rather than a direct confrontation by a principal from UK. It is estimated that the American share of the market has grown in proportion to the loss incurred by UK. The customers would like to hear what the UK has to offer better still, they would like to see a UK principal with the products. Perhaps one may regard the Hong Kong Government's recent Fian with a certain amount of doubt as to its final course but the fact cannot be ignored that most of the developments will take place and UK industry will be left behind if they do not take a more active and aggressive role.
8.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Despite the fact that the Trade Commission was also concerned with a Trade Mission at the time of the visit, the programme was one of the most comprehensive and best planned I have experienced for some time. Acknowledgement for this must be paid to John Towlson and his staff, particularly David Barton who was always willing to assist in whatever way possible.
December 1974
4
W G ASQUITH
MC(15)
ADE STATISTICS
Year:
1970
Unit:
£
Source: HM CUSTOMS & EXCISE
Trade:
EXPORTS
Country: HONG KONG
PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS
APPENDIX A
PRODUCT
EXPORTS TO HONG KONG
%
TOTAL EXPORTS
Provitamins and Vitamins
38,381
0.7
5,315,351
Antibiotics
367,476
0.8
44,630,573
Vegetable Alkaloids
35,754
1.1
3,394,224
Hormones
116,643
1.1
10,480,757
Glycosides
Glands
Antisera
Medicaments NE S
2,538
0.5
536,715
1,578
0.2
850,332
17,882
0.6
3,174,183
1,102,517
1.8
60,932,124
Pharmaceutical goods including
Dressings
TOTAL
115,866
1.1
10,436,590
1,798,635
1.3
139,750,849
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
EXPORTS TO
PRODUCT
Spectacle Glass, Frames, Parts etc
HONG KONG
80
TOTAL EXPORTS
222,469
8.1
2,740,600
Instruments: Ophth. Med. Surg Dental
62,987
0.5
13,342,895
Orthopaedic Appliances
8,530
0.5
1,567,405
Electro-Medical Apparatus
(excluding X-Ray)
10,586
0.5
2,191,364
X-Ray Apparatus
4,129
0.1
3,048,120
X-Ray Film
3,562
0.1
5,457,537
Furniture: Medical, Dental, etc
17,863
1.6
1,150,781
Mechano Therapy Appliances
30,648
1.3
2,365,916
TOTAL
360,774
1.1
31,864,618
TOTAL PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS
AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
2,159,409
1.3
171,615,467
TRADE STATISTICS
Year:
1973
t:
£
Source:
H M CUSTOMS & EXCISE
Trade:
Country:
EXPORTS
HONG KONG
PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS
PRODUCT
Provitamins and Vitamins
Antibiotics
Vegetable Alkaloids
Hormones
Glycosides
Glands
Antisera
Medicaments NES
Pharmaceutical goods including
Dressings
TOTAL
EXPORTS TO HONG KONG
%%
TOTAL EXPORTS
64,084
0.7
9,456,917
843,369
1.3
64,676,072
40,611
0.9
4,630,722
96,439
0.7
14,256,845
5,514
0.8
696,381
2,197
0.3
804,114
16,210
0.3
5,696,078
1,498,412
1.4
106,116,320
223,512
1.6
14,813,572
2,790,348
1.3
221,147,021
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
PRODUCT
Spectacle Glass, Frames, Parts etc
Instruments: Ophth Med Surg Dental
EXPORTS TO HONG KONG
L
TOTAL EXPORTS
103,646
2.8
3,701,862
92,123
0.3
30,060,305
Orthopaedic Appliances
4,807
0.1
3,520,682
Electro-Medical Apparatus
(excluding X-Ray)
1,936
5,408,388
X-Ray Apparatus
37,499
1.6
2,415,701
X-Ray Film
7,667
0.2
4,081,052
Furniture: Medical, Dental, etc
18,323
1.1
1,727,291
Mechano Therapy Appliances
37,287
0.8
4,671,690
TOTAL
303,290
0.6
55,586,971
TOTAL PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS
3,093,638
1.1
276,733,992
AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT