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The patients, who are all make, undergo voluntary treatment for their addiction for a period of six months and are in an entirely different category to those suffering from mental disorders who are housed in the main blocks of the hospital. The payment incentive scheme was most successful and added to the remedial value of the work done; it was found that the response and behaviour of patients was enhanced by separation into small working groups of not more than six persons, Sewing and tailoring work was undertaken for the Department's Central Linen Store in preparation for the opening of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Other groups helped in ward cleaning and kitchen duties and a construction group has been most useful both in concreting paths around the hospital and in the building of a pavilion in the grounds. A full range of recreational activities was maintained and relations between staff and patients were greatly improved in comparison with the early periods of this pilot voluntary treatment scheme.
414. At the Queen Mary Hospital, occupational therapy is less frequently prescribed as the great majority of in-patients are acute cases, but essential after-care for post-operative orthopaedic and neuro-surgical patients is increasingly prescribed and three specialized hand-looms were added to the ward equipment for this purpose during 1962.
415. The work at Lai Chi Kok Hospital is of considerable variety. being amongst tuberculosis patients and the convalescent patients from Kowloon Hospital. Weekly outpatient treatment and job-training ses- sions for men with amputated limbs were established during the year, with the object of giving these patients confidence and skill in the use of their newly-fitted prostheses. The majority were arm amputees eager to resume employment,
416. The Sixth Annual Exhibition and Sale of Work was held in the City Hall in October 1962 and was officially opened by Lady BLACK. The Exhibition showed, for two full days, a wide range of handicrafts by patients from all sections of the Occupational Therapy Service, and the sale of finished articles realized more than $7.500. In addition, sales of products throughout the year realized a further $25,592.
ORTHOPAEDIC AND PROSTHETIC APPLIANCES
417. This unit is staffed by an Orthopaedic Appliance Technician, 6 student assistant technicians and 7 artisans. Premises in the Harcourt Health Centre provided offices and workshops on a temporary basis, bul
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a permanent establishment is included in the new Jockey Club Re- habilitation Centre at Kowloon Hospital, which is expected to be completed in the summer of 1963.
418. The training of the student technicians has proceeded satisfac- torily, and the Institute of British Surgical Technicians in London, who scrutinized test examination papers, have now agreed to recognize this training for entry to its examinations.
419. The amount and variety of work undertaken have increased considerably; 577 surgical appliances. totalling HK$70,666 in valez, were produced compared with 231 in the previous year. The output is. however, still insufficient to meet the demand, which now exceeds 100 new prescriptions per month from orthopaedic surgeons. Fees recovered against the cost of these appliances were $45.139. compared to $20,364 in 1961.
420. Apart from routine work at Government hospitals, outpatient departments and physiotherapy clinics, visits were made on request to the Sandy Bay Convalescent Home, the British Red Cross Crippled Children's Home at Kwun Tong and Hei Ling Chau Leprosarium, Co- operation with the Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation, the Lutheran World Service and the Social Welfare Department was successfully continued throughout the year.
421. Experimental procedures on several new types of appliance have been developed with success, particularly on 'above knee' plastic sockets and below knee" prostheses which have resulted in the stand- ardization of component parts in plastic materials and a reduction in the costs of production. Further research work is in progress on the use of policocyanate foam as a casting jig for below-knee prostheses, on a pressure indicator for the determination of thrust in deformed feet and on a material to indicate areas of socket pressure in anaesthetic stumps of amputated limbs.
MEDICAL EXAMINATION BOARD
422. This Board performs the medical examination of all new entrants to Government employment and to the Auxiliary Defence Services. Members of the Civil Service prior to transfer outside Hong Kong are also medically examined by the Board. In addition, work is carried out, on request, for countries which require prospective im- migrants to submit a certificate of physical fitness. Each examination involves a comprehensive physical check, certain routine laboratory
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