146
HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT
The out-patient clinic and maternity home services of Govern- ment are considerably augmented by Chinese voluntary and charitable organizations which take a most active interest in medical and health problems. The only other services which attract equivalent interest amongst these organizations are educa- tion and the provision of death benefits.
Reference has already been made to the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals which also maintain very large free out-patient clinics at the three hospitals. It is also noteworthy that, of all babies born in institutions in the Colony, 30% were born in the Tung Wah Maternity Wards.
Two other long established Chinese charitable Associations, the Chung Sing Benevolent Society and the Lok Sin Tong, also run medical clinics. The former also operates a dental clinic and the latter a maternity home.
The Kaifong Welfare Associations also support a number of clinics where treatment is free or given at nominal cost. During the year the Hung Hom Kaifong Association, aided by Government, built a 3-storey clinic and maternity home which was handed over to Government and will be maintained from public funds. This clinic serves a densely populated area near the Hong Kong and Whampoa Dockyard, the Board of which contributed substantially towards the cost.
The Kaifong Associations have co-operated fully with Gov- ernment in vaccination campaigns, education in environmental hygiene, and in the control of diphtheria.
District Associations, whose members claim a common ancestral home in the mainland of China, also provide a number of low cost clinics, and Clansmen's Associations, whose members have the same surname but who are not necessarily related, have arranged for doctors from amongst their members to provide low cost treatment for clansmen belonging to their Associations.
Buddhist organizations also contribute their share to medical and health work. They have established clinics at Wan Chai, Happy Valley, Wong Tai Sin and Tai Po Market and a sanato- rium at Ngong Ping on Lantau Island. The Hong Kong Buddhist