XN000022-1973-10-31 — Page 3

Wednesday, October 31, 1973

MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEXT DECADE

Far-Reaching Implications Of Draft New 10-Year Plan

Four new hospitals on the Island, Kowloon and the New Territories

are recommended by the Medical Development Advisory Committee to cope with

the anticipated medical needs of a population expected to be more than

five million in the next decade.

The Committee, under the chairmanship of Sir Albert Rodrigues,

was set up on March 27 this year to consider and advise on the development

and phased implementation of medical and health services between now and 1983.

Its report, a comprehensive document with vast implications, was

tabled in the Legislative Council today, and at the same time published

for public information and comment.

By early next year, after the recommendations have been carefully

considered, a clear programme of development is expected to be laid before

the Executive and Legislative Councils.

The four new hospitals, strategically located in areas of growing

density, is one of a host of major recommendations embracing new training

facilities for dentists and dental nurses, more training facilities for

doctors, general and psychiatric nurses, more polyclinics and clinics..

and regionalisation of the hospital and clinic services all costing

million of dollars.

The proposed hospitals are a general hospital in East Kowloon,

another general hospital at Shatin, a psychiatric hospital on Hong Kong

Island, and a general hospital at Tuen Mun, near Castle Peak.

The hospitals