MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 1978
EXPANSION OF YAN CHAI HOSPITAL
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THE GOVERNMENT-SUBVENTED YAN CHAI HOSPITAL WILL BE EXPANDED TO PROVIDE MORE BEDS FOR KWAI CHUNG AND THE DEVELOPING NEW TOWN OF TSUEN WAN.
DURING A CEREMONY THIS AFTERNOON TO MARK THE COMMENCEMENT OF CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW EXTENSION TO THE HOSPITAL, THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. K.L. THONG, DESCRIBED THE PROJECT AS A FURTHER STEP FORWARD IN THE PROVISION OF MEDICAL CARE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF TSUEN WAN AND KWAI CHUNG.+
HE PAID TRIBUTE TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF YAN CHAI HOSPITAL FOR THEIR HARD WORK IN THE RAISING OF FUNDS FOR THE NEW EXTENSION.
THE FIRST STAGE OF THE HOSPITAL'S EXPANSION SCHEME CONSISTS OF BUILDING THREE ADDITIONAL STOREYS TO THE EXISTING COMPLEX, PROVIDING A TOTAL OF 75 ADDITIONAL BEDS, INSTEAD OF 50 AS ORIGINALLY PLANNED, SUBJECT TO FINAL APPROVAL OF THE GOVERNMENT.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED A CAPITAL SUBVENTION OF $2.5 MILLION TO MEET 75 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL ESTIMATED PROJECT COST AND ACCEPTED IN PRINCIPLE THE EXPECTED INCREASE IN RECURRENT EXPENDITURE RESULTING FROM THE EXPANSION.
DR. THONG SAID YAN CHAI HOSPITAL WAS OPENED JUST OVER FOUR YEARS AGO AND SINCE THEN HAS BEEN PLAYING A VALUABLE ROLE IN THE PROVISION OF MEDICAL SERVICES, PARTICULARLY BY WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL AND GOVERNMENT CLINICS IN THE WEST NEW TERRITORIES.
NOT LONG AFTER ITS OPENING THE SUCCESSIVE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS HAVE STARTED TO SET THEMSELVES THE GOAL OF EXPANDING THE FACILITIES BY STAGES TO COPE WITH THE INCREASE IN DEMAND FOR MEDICAL SERVICES IN THE RAPIDLY DEVELOPING NEW TOWN, HE SAID.
+THE PAST AND PRESENT BOARDS OF DIRECTORS ARE TO BE CONGRATULATED FOR THEIR FAR-SIGHTEDNESS AND DEVOTION TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF THE RESIDENTS OF THIS AREA,+ SAID DR. THONG.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE HOSPITAL ALSO PLANS TO BUILD ADDITIONAL STAFF QUARTERS AND BEDS IN THE SECOND STAGE OF THE EXPANSION PROJECT.
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