various welfare services for the poor. It is managed by a Board of Directors who are elected annually and who raise large sums of money for charitable purposes. A considerable proportion of the money raised is devoted to the maintenance of the three hospitals controlled by the group, namely the Tung Wah and the Tung Wah Eastern Hospitals situated on Hong Kong Island, and the Kwong Wah Hospital in Kowloon. The remainder of the expenses incurred by these hospitals are met by a large annual subvention from Government.
311. The work of the hospitals is subject to the general direction of the Tung Wah Hospitals' Medical Committee, which under the Chair- manship of the Director of Medical and Health Services, consists of the Chairman and Principal Directors of the Tung Wah, two members of the Tung Wah Hospital Advisory Board, the Medical Superintendents of the three Hospitals and the Deputy Financial Secretary (Finance). The Medical Superintendents are Government Medical Officers on secondment.
312. All three hospitals maintain large and very busy out-patient departments, but do not normally accept casualties. The general medical and surgical wards provide, in addition to care and treatment of many acute cases, much needed accommodation for those suffering from chronic illnesses requiring prolonged hospitalization. Two infirmaries are maintained for the care of persons suffering from incurable diseases. 313. Consultant services are provided, mainly by specialists in private practice whose services are given voluntarily; certain Govern- ment Specialists also act as consultants to hospitals within the Tung Wah Group.
314. The important part that the Tung Wah Hospitals play in the medical services of the Colony can be seen from the following table:
TABLE 28
WORK OF THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS, 1959
Tatul
Heds
Kwong Wah
659
In-patients admitted
42,380
Tung Wah
652
13,139
Tung Wah Eastern
336
8.245
Total our-patient attendances
285.773 113,535 170,527
Total ...
1,647
63,764
$69.835
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315. The maternity wards of these three hospitals which give a free service are the busiest in the Colony. Approximately one third of all births registered take place in these wards. At the Kwong Wah Hospital 22,698 births took place during 1959, an average of 58 births each day.
316. At the end of the year. Phase II of the Kwong Wah Hospital Re-development Scheme was nearing completion. The Nurses' Training School was opened by the Director of Medical and Health Services in January, 1960, while the opening ceremony for the Nurses' Quarters was performed at the end of March. 1960, by the Secretary for Chinese Affairs.
Pok Qi Hospital
317. This hospital, situated near Yuen Long in the New Territories, is a charitable institution of 50 beds. It is maintained by a Board of Directors and is largely supported by charitable donations augmented by an annual Government subvention. Originally, hospital treatment was mainly by traditional Chinese herbal medicines, but these have now been largely replaced by Western medicines.
318. An extension to the hospital, expected to be completed by July, 1960. will increase the number of beds to 100. The cost of this extension has been met partly by subscriptions from the public and the Directors and partly by a capital grant from Government.
319. During 1959, a number of administrative changes were made. The general administration of the hospital is now under an Executive Committee comprising 6 representatives of the Board of Directors and 6 representatives of Government. At the same time, a Government Medical Officer has been seconded to the hospital to act as Medical Superintendent; this officer is responsible for the day-to-day running of the hospital and also acts as a liaison between unofficial and official members of the Executive Committee.
Hei Ling Chau Leprosarium.
320. Maintained by the Mission to Lepers Hong Kong Auxiliary with the aid of a substantial recurrent subvention from Government. the Leprosarium is situated on the island of Hei Ling Chau which lies off the east coast of Lantau Island. It provides hostel accommodation for up to 540 leprosy patients and there are 50 beds for medical and surgical care in the Maxwell Memorial Hospitals; there are also 15 beds for leprosy patients with tuberculosis.
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