HEALTH
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Dr Tang Shiu-kin, CBE, LLD subscribed generously, were opened in May and August. The Jockey Club Clinic at Wong Tau Hom and the Jockey Club Kowloon Medical Rehabilitation Centre, both in Kowloon, were donated by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club and opened in February and August. The latter is situated in the grounds of Kowloon Hospital and provides varied and up-to-date rehabilitation facilities in the form of physiotherapy and occupa- tional therapy, and also serves as a centre for the manufacture and fitting of orthopaedic appliances. The Kam Tin Clinic and Maternity Hospital in the New Territories, to which the residents of Kam Tin and Pat Heung subscribed, was opened in December. Despite these improved facilities, however, there was no easing of the pressure on clinic and hospital services. Admissions during the year again increased by 5.6 per cent but their accommodation was only made possible by the use of camp beds in wards and on verandahs and by shortening as far as possible the time spent in hospital.
Vital Statistics. In 1963 the total of live births showed a slight increase on the figure for 1962. A total of 115,263 live births were registered as against 111,905 in 1962. The live birth rate dropped slightly from 32.8 to 32.1 per 1,000 of population. The crude death rate remained constant at 5.5 per 1,000 and there was a natural increase of 95,515 persons during the year. A table showing the principal statistics and rates over the period 1953 to 1963 is at Appendix VII.
The infant mortality rate dropped to 32.9 per 1,000 live births, the neonatal mortality rate was 18.9 per 1,000 live births and the still-birth rate was 13.9 per 1,000 total births. There were only 34 maternal deaths and the maternal mortality rate was 0.29 per 1,000 total births. The perinatal rate, the deaths of infants under one week of age, was 24.3 per 1,000 total births.
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
Cholera. Following the outbreaks of cholera in 1961 and 1962, and the continuing incidence in nearby countries, special preventive measures were taken throughout the year. These consisted of routine bacteriological investigations for cholera of all specimens sent to the laboratory from cases of gastro-enteritis, and the routine