+
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1976.
$14 M. GOVT. SUBVENTION FOR CARITAS MEDICAL
CENTRE'S EXTENSION
*****
THE GOVERNMENT HAS AGREED TO GRANT A CAPITAL SUBVENTION OF $14.1 MILLION TO THE CARITAS MEDICAL CENTRE FOR BUILDING AN EXTENSION WITH 600 BEDS.
THIS WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. G. H. CHOA, THIS AFTERNOON WHEN HE LAID THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE EXTENSION.
DR. CHOA INDICATED THAT RECURRENT SUBVENTION FOR THE 600 BEDS, TO BE USED FOR TREATING THE OLD AND INFIRMED AND THE SEVERE MENTALLY RETARDED, WOULD BE GIVEN WHEN THE EXTENSION BECAME OPERATIONAL, HOPEFULLY BY EARLY 1978.
THE TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT, INCLUDING FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT, IS ESTIMATED AT $29 MILLION.
IN HIS LAST PUBL MC FUNCTION IN HIS CAPACITY AS DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. CHOA SAID THE TWO CATEGORIES OF PATIENTS TO BE ACCOMMODATED IN THE EXTENSION WERE NOT EASY TO DEAL WITH.
+THEY REQUIRE A GREAT DEAL MORE TACT, PATIENCE, COMPASSION, SYMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING THAN OTHER PATIENTS. +
THE DEMAND FOR SUCH BEDS, WHICH WAS DISCUSSED IN THE MEDICAL WHITE PAPER ON THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES FOR THE PRESENT DECADE, WOULD BE MET TO A LARGE EXTENT WHEN THE 600 BEDS WERE PUT TO USE, HE SAID.
+SPEAKING BOTH PERSONALLY AND OFFICIALLY, I AM MOST GRATIFIED THAT AS USUAL THE CHURCH, UNDETERRED BY THE UNPOPULAR AND DIFFICULT NATURE OF THE WORK, HAS BEEN MOVED BY LOVE AND CHARITY TO ACCEPT OUR PROPOSAL,+ SAID DR. CHOA.
+CARITAS MEDICAL CENTRE, WHICH RECEIVES A RECURRENT SUBVENTION OF $11.7 MILLION IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR
HAS SERVED THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WELL, IN PARTICULAR THOSE IN THE WEST KOWLOON REGION, SINCE 1964,+ HE ADDED.
DR. CHOA SAID THE CENTRE WOULD FORM AN ESSENTIAL LINK IN THE CHAIN OF ORGANISATION OF THE FORTHCOMING REGIONALISATION SCHEME WHICH WOULD RESULT IN MUCH IMPROVED HOSPITAL AND CLINIC SERVICES FOR ALL.
IN CONNECTION WITH THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE CARITAS MEDICAL CENTRE, DR. CHOA SAID THERE WAS A NEED FOR THE CENTRE'S NURSING SCHOOL TO INCREASE ITS INTAKE SO AS TO PROVIDE MORE NURSES TO STAFF THE ADDITIONAL BEDS.
HE SAID A BUILDING TO HOUSE THE EXISTING NURSING SCHOOL, IF IT WAS TO BE ENLARGED, WOULD BE REQUIRED, AND HE HOPED THAT THIS PROPOSAL WOULD BE GIVEN FURTHER CONSIDERATION.
THE DIRECTOR PAID TRIBUTE TO THE THREE MEN WHO BROUGHT THE PROJECT INTO BEING, MR. RUN RUN SHAW, WHO DONATED $3 MILLION TOWARDS THE CONSTRUCTION COST, THE LATE MGR. VATH AND THE LATE .BISHOP FRANCIS HSU.
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