343. The Kwong Wah Hospital Redevelopment Scheme is now well under way and the new Out-patient Department built during the first phase was opened in March 1959 by the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, Mr. J. C. McDouall. The second phase, which includes the building of the Nurses' Training School and Nurses Hostel, is expected to be com- pleted early in 1960. The full redevelopment is expected to take five years and when completed will result in a modern hospital of 1,238 beds.
The Alice Ho Min Ling Nethersole Hospital
344. This hospital operated by the London Missionary Society offers general medical, surgical and maternity care. There are 270 beds in- cluding a modern maternity section of 70 beds. There is also a large out-patient department. The hospital caters for all classes of patients but the major part of the work is amongst the poor. Again this valuable contribution towards the Colony's medical service is supported by a substantial subvention from Government funds. During the year 7,248 in-patients were treated and there were 71,358 out-patient attendances. The Pok Oi Hospital
345. This hospital of 50 beds, situated near Yuen Long in the New Territories, is a charitable hospital in the Chinese tradition. It is main- tained 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 methods but these have now largely given way to treatment by western medicine. Two Government Medical Officers are seconded to this hospital to augment the medical staff.
346. The Directors have in hand plans to build a new section of the hospital giving accommodation for an additional sixty palients, and Government has agreed to make a capital grant towards the cost of this extension,
347. There were 2,763 in-patients admitted to the hospital during 1958 and 69,281 out-patient attendances were recorded.
Hei Ling Chau Leprosarium
348. The Leprosarium, which is maintained by the Mission to Lepers Hong Kong Auxiliary, has accommodation for 540 cases of leprosy: it is situated on the former Nun Island now renamed Hei Ling Chau. which may be translated 'Island of Happy Healing."
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349. In November 1958 His Excellency the Governor opened the new wing of the Maxwell Memorial Hospital which now contains 50 beds for the medical and surgical care of leprosy patients in need of hospital treatment. The additional accommodation has made it possible to carry out, on an increasing scale, a programme of re-constructive surgery for the correction of disabilities and deformities due to leprosy. During the year 150 re-constructive operations were carried out in the Hospital.
350. The Hei Ling Chau community is largely a self-contained one engaged mainly in agriculture and pig farming. The patients themselves, who live in hostels, carry out a large part of the work including main- tenance, domestic and hospital duties. There are also workshops for the teaching of trades which form part of the rehabilitation programme, An orthopaedic workshop was opened during the year for the making of shoes and other appliances for patients. The children under treatment attend a primary school on the island and there are large and active Troops of Boy Scouts and Girl Guides.
351. There is close liaison between Hei Ling Chau and the Govern- ment Social Hygiene Service which undertakes the out-patient treatment of leprosy patients living in the urban areas and the New Territories. Cases in need of institutional care are referred to Hei Ling Chau by the staff of the Social Hygiene Service and 111 such admissions were arranged during 1958.
Hospitals for Tuberculosis
352. Mention has been made earlier in this report of the work of the Grantham and Ruttonjee Hospitals and the Freni Memorial Con- valescent Home maintained by the Hong Kong Anti-Tuberculosis Association.
353. The Haven of Hope Sanatorium run by the Church World Service on a site above Junk Bay has accommodation for 122 cases of tuberculosis. Patients are admitted for medical treatment through various Medical Missionary organizations; the surgical treatment of selected cases is carried out at the Alice Họ Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital. The staff of the Sanatorium maintains an out-patient tuberculosis clinic for the nearby community of Rennic's Mill Camp Government subsidizes the free treatment of cases of tuberculosis from nearby villages who are admitted to the Sanatorium.
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