seven hundred clinics applied for registration, the majority of which were staffed by persons claiming to be unregistered doctors, eight hundred in all. The Ordinance makes special provision to allow un- registered doctors, who have satisfied the Registrar of Clinics as to their medical competence, to continue to work in clinics which are registered with exemption. To advise him on the capabilities of these persons, the Registrar convened a three-person panel representing the major special. ities of medicine, surgery and obstetrics and gynaecology to assess their medical background and knowledge. The panel considered that only sixty per cent showed sufficient medical knowledge to be allowed to practise medicine in clinics.
86. At the same time, the various sponsoring organizations were investigated with the assistance of a number of Government departments and the premises and equipment of the clinics were inspected. Only in a few instances was the sponsoring organization regarded as unsuitable and the majority of premises were also considered adequate.
87. Formal registration of clinics commenced in May, 1964, and official notifications of refusal of registration were distributed in October. Some 246 petitions to the Governor in Council, appealing against such refusal, were lodged: by the end of the year under review, 159 petitions had been considered and disallowed while the remaining eighty-seven were still under consideration.
88. In December, 1964, two Medical Inspectors of Clinics were appointed and commenced regular inspections of all clinics on the register. Advice was given to assist in remedying deficiencies of a minor nature but, as a result of these inspections and of complaints made, the Registrar found it necessary to cancel four registrations.
HEALTH EDUCATION
89. A better appreciation by the Colony's population of the basic principles of environmental hygiene and the prevention of disease continues to be the main health objective. A very wide field is covered by many branches of the Medical and Health Department, and the co- operation of all voluntary bodies interested in such topics is actively sought. During the year the Department co-operated in a number of exhibitions, notably the Third Kai Fong Health Education Exhibition in July-August, 1964, and the Fisheries Exhibition in February, 1965, by producing displays on various aspects of preventive medicine.
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90. Recent authoritative reports on the association between the incid- ence of lung cancer and smoking have been carefully considered by the Medical Advisory Board and recommendations forwarded to Government. Most of these recommendations were accepted and, at the end of the year under review, the Medical and Health Department was entrusted with the dissemination of this information in consultation with other interested agencies and Government departments; particular attention is to be paid to bringing the facts to the notice of the younger generations.
IV. WORK OF THE MEDICAL DIVISION
91. At the end of 1964, there was a total of 11,831 beds available in all hospitals in Hong Kong, excluding those hospitals maintained by Her Majesty's Armed Forces; this total includes the Kowloon Hospital which was being renovated during the year. An additional 617 beds in private maternity and nursing homes were also available. Development over the past ten years is illustrated in Figure 14 and it is a mark of Hong Kong's achievements to record that the total of 12,448 beds represents an increase of nearly 200 per cent over the bad provision în 1950.
1.2.0MDOM
-0.000
100
6.000
1,000
FIGURE I
HOSPITAL BEDS 1991-
TOTAL
**** QOVERNMENT membamr GOVT. ASSISTED
PRIVATE
1554
$6
37
60
*1
理
YEAR
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