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Medical services for Yuen Long residents
Following is a question by the Hon Zachary Wong Wai-yin and a written reply by the acting Secretary for Health and Welfare, Mrs Shelley Lau, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday);
Question:
With the future development of 200 hectares of land in the north of Tin Shui Wai, it is estimated that the population of Yuen Long district (including Tin Shui Wai) will exceed 900,000 by the year 2000. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a)
(b)
whether there is any plan to build a hospital in the Tin Shui Wai area in anticipation of the growth in population; if so, what the timetable of the plan is; if not, why not; and
what measures are currently in place to reinforce the medical services in the area so as to meet the demand of the continuous growth in population?
Reply:
An overall review, similar to the one carried out in 1992, is currently being conducted by the Hospital Authority to update the projected demand and supply of public hospital beds in the territory. The medical services required to cater for residents in the Yuen Long District, including Tin Shui Wai, will be covered as part of this exercise.
In response to growing patient demand, the Hospital Authority has taken steps in the last few years to enhance the scope of services and specialised facilities offered by the cluster network comprising Tuen Mun Hospital, Pok Oi Hospital and Fanling Hospital. Apart from other improvement measures which might be pursued following the review mentioned above, completion of North District Hospital with 600 beds in mid-1997 will further strengthen the service provision in the northern and western parts of New Territories.
End/Wednesday, July 19, 1995