WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1976
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TRIBUTE TO DR. GERALD CHOA
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THE RETIRING DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, DR. THE HON. GERALD CHOA, WAS TODAY DESCRIBED AS A PERSON WHO HAS +PROVED HIMSELF AS A DIRECTOR OF THE HIGHEST DISTINCTION+.
THIS TRIBUTE WAS PAID BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, IN TODAY'S LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING.
SIR MURRAY SAID DR. CHOA, WHO HAS BEEN WITH THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR SIX YEARS AND 20 YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT. WOULD BE REMEMBERED BY THE COUNCIL AS THE MOST ABLE AND COURTEOUS COLLEAGUE AND, IF I MAY SAY SO AS A MASTER OF ELLIPTICAL SPEECH, TYPICAL OF THE MOST FINEST TRADITIONS OF THE MANDARINATE.+
HE SAID DR. CHOA'S CONTRIBUTIONS HAD COVERED A WIDE FIELD AND LISTED SOME OF THE THINGS FOR WHICH HE HAD BEEN RESPONSIBLE.
THEY INCLUDE THE OPENING OF THE PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL, THE LARGEST GENERAL HOSPITAL IN HONG KONG THE INTRODUCTION OF A NEW METHOD OF TREATMENT OF DRUG ADDICTION IN THE FORM OF METHADONE DETOXIFICATION THE GOVERNMENT'S NEW AND DECISIVE ROLE IN FAMILY PLANNING THE INTRODUCTION OF GERIATRIC SERVICES AND THE SUPPORT BY GOVERNMENT TO THE COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE.
+AS A PLANNER, HE WILL BE PARTICULARLY REMEMBERED FOR HIS WORK IN THE PREPARATION OF THE 10 YEARS' MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME, AND INTRODUCING THE NEW CONCEPT OF REGIONALISATION OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES,+ HE SAID.
DR. CHOA WILL BE TAKING UP THE APPOINTMENT AS THE DEAN OF THE NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL AT THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG WHICH, SIR MURRAY SAID +HONG KONG SO BADLY NEEDS+.
+ AM SURE MEMBERS WILL JOIN ME IN WISHING DR. CHOA AND MRS. CHOA ALL OUR VERY BEST WISHES IN THEIR HAPPINESS AND SUCCESS IN THE YEARS TO COME, SIR MURRAY ADDED.
ON BEHALF OF OTHER UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS AND HIMSELF, DR. THE HON. S.Y. CHUNG ALSO WISHED DR. CHOA EVERY SUCCESS IN HIS NEW ENDEAVOUR.
+SIR, HIS DEPARTURE FROM THIS COUNCIL WILL REDUCE THE NUMBER OF LONG SERVING MEMBERS AND BY THAT TOKEN ALONE THIS DIMINISHING OF OUR COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE IS TO BE REGRETTED, HE SAID.
+OUR LOSS, HOWEVER, IS BALANCED BY THE GAIN TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SECOND MEDICAL SCHOOL IS A STEP WHICH WILL BE OF INCALCULABLE BENEFIT TO THE FUTURE HEALTH OF OUR GROWING POPULATION, HE ADDED.
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