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(3) Children's Hospital.
With the opening of a new general hospital in Kowloon, it will be possible, at small cost, to convert the present Kowloon Hospital into a 200-bed children's hospital which will fill a long-felt need.
(4) Mental Hospital.
The Mental Hospital dates back to 1883 and 1890 and has a number of drawbacks associated with buildings constructed in Hong Kong towards the end of the last century. Its main disadvantage lies in the fact that it is situated in a built-up area and that no adequate space for recreation and gardening exists. Removal of this institution to the Leased Territories would enable a modern build- ing to be erected embodying the principles of the newer methods of care of mental patients in spacious surroundings with ample scope for occupational therapy. Once the Mental Hospital has been trans- ferred, the present building might be converted into a polyclinic but a modern building designed for the purpose would be distinctly preferable. The male portion of the hospital could serve as an institution for lepers pending repatriation to leper settlements in Kwang Tung.
(5) Tuberculosis Sanatorium, etc.
If the Hong Kong Anti-Tuberculosis Association is
able to obtain a satisfactory site from Government for a Tuberculosis Sanatorium, it proposes to build one to augment the decidedly meagre sanatorium facilities in existence at present (96 beds at Felix Villas, Pokfulam).
We hope that Government may see its way to grant the site at Brickfield Hill, applied for by the Association, at a nominal rent in view of its ability to raise funds from the local community for a sanatorium. It will, however, be noticed that provision is made in the list of institutions to be built for tuberculosis pavilions of 100 beds each at the Tung Wah Eastern and Kwong Wah Hospitals.
(6) Polyclinic (Wanchai).
The Violet Peel Health Centre, Wanchai, was so heavily bombed and looted during the Pacific War that rehabilitation is likely to be a long and somewhat costly process, For this reason, use was made of the rather less damaged former A.R.P. Headquarters and first aid post at Morrison Hill soon after the liberation of the Colony as a substitute. While a little less convenient to mothers with babies than the original Health Centre, the Harcourt Health Centre meets the need of the district adequately. On the other hand, a polyclinic in Wanchai somewhat similar to the Queen's Road Outpatient Department in the western district is a very real need.
The alterations contemplated in the rehabilitation of the Violet Peel Centre which are estimated to cost $111,000 - would enable the ground floor to be converted into an admirably adapted outpatient department. The upper floor could provide thirty beds for opthalmic cases for which little or no special provision has been possible up to the present.
(7) Health Centres.
Plans were prepared before the Pacific War for health centres at Kowloon City, Tsun Wan, Un Long and Taipo.
We are of the opinion that post-war conditions have clearly demonstrated a still greater need for these institutions.
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