FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1980
SIR MURRAY WAS HAPPY THAT YAN CHAI HAS DEVELOPED A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL IN SERVING THE WESTERN REGION OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.
HE CONGRATULATED THE DIRECTORS OF THE HOSPITAL BOTH ON THE IR ACHIEVEMENTS SO FAR AND FOR THE FURTHER EXPANSION TO A TOTAL OF 600 BEDS WHICH THEY PLANNED BY 1984.
+ I UNDERSTAND THAT THE IR PROPOSALS WILL SHORTLY BE CONSIDERED BY THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY BOARD AND PROVIDED THEY RECEIVE THE COMMITTEE'S BLESSING YOU CAN BE ASSURED OF GOVERNMENT'S STRONG SUPPORT, HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR SAID HONG KONG WAS FORTUNATE FOR ITS TRADITION OF VOLUNTARY COMMUNITY SUPPORT IN THE PROVISION OF WELFARE FACILITIES.
+ IN THANK ING THE DIRECTORS OF YAN CHAI HOSPITAL TODAY I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO PAY TRIBUTE TO ALL THOSE PRIVATE CITIZENS WHO GIVE SO GENEROUSLY OF THE IR TIME AND MONEY FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE SOCIETY IN WHICH WE LIVE.+
OUTLINING YAN CHAI'S EXPANSION PROGRAMME, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOSPITAL'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS, MRS WU KWOK SAU-PING, SAID AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THREE ADDITIONAL STOREYS TO THE EXISTING HOSPITAL BUILDING THE SECOND STAGE OF THE EXTENSION PROJECT WAS NOW IN ACTIVE PROGRESS.
+THIS STAGE INCLUDES THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN OUTPATIENTS' CLINIC AND MEDICAL STAFF QUARTERS AND IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED NEXT YEAR.+
THE SITE OF THE MAURINE GRANTHAM HEALTH CENTRE AND SOME LAND IN HOI PA VILLAGE HAD BEEN ALLOCATED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO THE HOSPITAL FOR EXTENSION PURPOSES, INCREASING THE AREA OF THE HOSPITAL TO 1 022 SQUARE METRES, MRS WU SAID.
PLANS WERE IN HAND TO UPGRADE THE HOSPITAL TO AN EMERGENCY AND SPECIALIST HOSPITAL RUNNING A CASUALTY WARD THAT OPENS 24 HOURS A DAY.
THE ORIGINAL TARGET OF 400 BEDS WOULD BE INCREASED TO 600 AND A NURSE TRAINING SCHOOL WOULD BE SET UP TO HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF SHORTAGE OF PARAMEDICAL STAFF.
THE TOTAL COST WAS ESTIMATED AT OVER $140 MILLION.
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