THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 1991
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HK CAN BE PROUD OF ITS MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS: GOVERNOR
HONG KONG HAS MUCH TO BE PROUD OF IN THE MEDICAL FIELD, BUT WE CANNOT AFFORD TO STAND STILL, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
"THERE IS STILL MUCH TO BE DONE, SIR DAVID SAID, WHEN SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE TUEN MUN HOSPITAL, WHICH IS THE 35TH PUBLIC HOSPITAL IN HONG KONG.
SIR DAVID SAID THE MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC HOSPITALS WAS ABOUT ΤΟ CHANGE AS PART OF THE NEVER-ENDING PROCESS OF SEEKING TO IMPROVE THE MEDICAL FIELD.
HE SAID THE NEW HOSPITAL AUTHORITY WHICH HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED BEGIN TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR RUNNING HONG KONG'S PUBLIC HOSPITALS LATER THIS YEAR.
WOULD
"THE PURPOSE OF THIS CHANGE IS TO CREATE A HOSPITAL WHICH IS BOTH EFFICIENT AND ALSO RESPONSIVE TO PUBLIC NEEDS.
SERVICE
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"IT WILL PRESENT OUR NURSES AND DOCTORS WITH OPPORTUNITIES CHALLENGES TO MAKE OUR HOSPITAL SERVICES NOT ONLY AMONG THE BEST IN THE REGION, AS THEY ARE TODAY, BUT AMONG THE BEST IN THE WORLD, THE GOVERNOR SAID.
SIR DAVID POINTED OUT THAT LIFE EXPECTANCY AND INFANT MORTALITY RATES IN THE TERRITORY HAD IMPROVED STEADILY AND THEY WERE NOW AMONG THE BEST IN THE WORLD.
SIR DAVID ADDED THAT HONG KONG-WAS ALSO AMONG THE WORLD LEADERS IN SOME AREAS OF MEDICAL CARE AND RESEARCH.
A
GROWING
"OUR UNIVERSITIES AND TEACHING HOSPITALS PROVIDE STREAM OF QUALIFIED DOCTORS AND OTHER MEDICAL STAFF. PUBLIC MEDICAL SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL, AT A HEAVILY SUBSIDISED COST, HE SAID.
"
SIR DAVID NOTED THAT 20 YEARS AGO, TUEN MUN WAS A QUIET VALLEY.
IT WAS NOW HOME TO NEARLY HALF A MILLION PEOPLE.
IN THE LATE 1960S, HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT LAID THE FOUNDATIONS FOR A SUBSTANTIAL SHIFT IN HONG KONG'S POPULATION FROM THE CROWDED URBAN AREAS INTO THE NEW TERRITORIES.
"THOSE PLANS ARE
STILL BEARING FRUIT. TODAY, TUEN MUN HAS MODERN HOUSING, SHOPPING COMPLEXES, SCHOOLS AND PARKS. IT IS NOW GETTING ONE OF THE LARGEST HOSPITALS IN HONG KONG, SIR DAVID SAID.
SIR DAVID CONGRATULATED THE PLANNERS, ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS WHO HELPED BRING THIS IMPRESSIVE BUILDING INTO BEING.
"AND 1 WISH EVERY SUCCESS TO THE ADMINISTRATORS AND STAFF WHOSE JOB IT NOW IS TO MAKE THIS A FIRST CLASS MODERN AND A CREDIT TO HONG KONG," HE SAID.
MEDICAL HOSPITAL,
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