have fallen into five main categories-the development of medical institution, staffing of such institutions, subventions to government- assisted institutions, fees and charges, and improved utilization of existing medical facilities.

201. The principal matters with which the committee has been oc- cupied were the Ad Hoc Committee on Medical Subventions, the utiliza- tion of vacant beds in government-assisted hospitals, medical facilities in the Kwun Tong district, and the subventions paid to government- assisted institutions.

202. Among new matters considered by the committee were the Kwong Wah Hospital Clinical Pathology Building, a review of the geographical distribution of medical services, the maternal and child health centre at Yau Tong, the additional floor of the Arran Street Clinic, the milk kitchen at the Tsan Yuk Hospital, a pupil nursing auxiliaries training school and quarters, and quarters for student nurses at Queen Mary Hospital.

COMPLETED PROJECTS

203. Two projects were completed and handed over to the Depart- ment during the year, namely the standard urban clinic at north Kwai Chung and the Tai Lam dental clinic at Tai Lam Chung. The Siu Lam Hospital was completed, and the buildings were in the process of being handed over to the Department by the end of the year.

PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

204. Major projects on which construction had begun were the New Lai Chi Kok Hospital, the foundation stone of which was laid by H.R.H. The Princess Anne, the new Vaccine Institute at Pok Fu Lam, the reprovisioning of the Victoria Public Mortuary, reprovisioning of the mortuary at the Queen Mary Hospital, virus laboratory and clinical pathology services, Tsuen Wan/Kwai Cheng Polyclinic, stage I, a Medical Department laundry, and the new Clinical Building at Queen Mary Hospital. Government-assisted projects under construction were the Yan Chai Hospital at Tsuen Wan, the centenary block of the Tung Wah Hospital, and the United Christian Hospiatl in Kwun Tong,

205. A detailed statement of development will be found in the statistical appendix to this report.

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VIL TRAINING PROGRAMME

(Tables 78–800)

DOCTORS

206. This repon has said earlier that the Queen Mary and the Tsan Yuk hospitals are used as teaching hospitals by the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong. The University confers the degrees of M.B., B.S., which have been registrable with the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom since 1911. Between 1965 and 1969, the University's intake of medical students was 120 a year. From October 1970, the intake was increased to 150. Building works to expand the facilities for clinical teaching at the Queen Mary were in progress during 1971 to allow for the larger number of students expected to start their clinical training in October 1972.

207. There is a programme for the training of government doctors for post-graduate qualifications. A number of training posts has been established in the clinical units of major hospitals for post-qualification training, recognized by examining bodies in the United Kingdom and Australia. When selected, suitable candidates are given training under the supervision of clinical specialists for about four years. Subject to departmental needs, a local officer who has completed four years continuous resident service, and who has been confirmed to the pensionable establishment, may be granted paid study leave to attend a course of study outside the Colony to acquire knowledge, experience. or qualifications of advantage to the public, or to the officer in his official capacity. Through this arrangement, many government doctors have been given study leave and granted fellowships, scholarships, or study tours to attend courses of study overseas, Between 1965 and 1971, a total of 59 government doctors returned to Hong Kong with higher qualifications in various fields.

DENTAL STAFF

208. No training in dentistry is available in Hong Kong, but the Government annually awards scholarships overseas for the study of dentistry. Four such scholarships were awarded during the year. One scholar returned to Hong Kong after qualification, bringing the total of returned graduates to 67 out of a total of 89 scholarships so far awarded.

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