XN000022-1972-06-21 — Page 11

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Wednesday, June 21, 1972

MEDICAL GRADUATES TO FILL VACANCIES

Medical graduates from the University of Hong Kong are expected to

fill most of the posts for new hospital projects and other vacancies occurring

in the Medical and Health Department due to retirement and resignation over the

next few years.

The Director of Medical and Health Services, Dr. the Hon. G.H. Choa,

told the Legislative Council today that 78 new medical graduates were expected

to join his department as Medical and Health Officers on July 1.

Replying to a question sy he flon. Wilfred Wong, he said that at

June 17 there were 181 vacancies for doctors in the department, including 50

for the new Lai Chi Kok Hospital and another 50 as leave reserves,

Dr. Choa added: "I would like to emphasise once more that our

figure includes an element for the future and leave reserve purposes and does

not represent the actual number of existing operational posts unfilled,"

Earlier Mr. Wong had asked how many vacancies existed for doctors

in the civil service and whether the number was likely to increase when the two

new hospitals at Lai Chi Kok were fully operational. He also asked what steps

were being taken to counteract the shortage.

The Director said the new Lai Chi Kok Hospital would now be planned

and administered as one large complex consisting of a general wing and a psychiatric

wing, instead of two separate hospitals.

The general wing would have an establishment of 121 posts and these would

start being filled from about the middle of 1974. Fifty of these posts had been

added to the present total eatablishment so that the department could train medical

officers as they became available.

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