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HEALTH
In some cases, where a proportion of low-cost or free beds is main- tained and where any excess of income over expenditure is used for hospital development, land is granted without premium and rates are refunded through government subvention.
SPECIALIST SERVICES
In government hospitals there are clinical specialists in anaes- thetics; chest surgery; dentistry; ear, nose and throat diseases; eye diseases, general medicine, general surgery, neurosurgery; obstetrics and gynaecology; orthopaedic surgery; psychiatry; pathology; radiodiagnosis and radiotherapy. There are also specialized clinics for tuberculosis and social hygiene. The Malaria Bureau, the Government Chemist's laboratory and the forensic pathology laboratory also provide specialist services. The Govern- ment Institute of Pathology maintains clinical pathology and public health laboratory services. There are blood banks at the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth hospitals and the Hong Kong Branch of the British Red Cross Society operates a blood collecting centre for the voluntary donation of blood. The Institute of Pathology carries out laboratory work for the blood banks. The Government Chemist is responsible for the work of an analytical laboratory which undertakes a wide range of investigations concerned with food, narcotics and medico-legal work as well as a considerable amount of non-medical investigation.
OUTPATIENT CLINICS
To meet the increasing demand for treatment by modern Western medicine, the outpatient services provided by the government, by subsidized organizations and by private agencies are developing steadily. Many charitable and missionary clinics provide treatment either free or at a nominal cost. Numerous organizations, partic- ularly the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, continue to take an active interest in medical and health problems. A large number of outpatient clinics are supported by kaifong, district and clansmen's associations. Commercial concerns and trade unions also operate clinics for their members.
One new government clinic was opened at Sha Tin and the government now maintains 40 clinics for general outpatients.