XN000022-1976-03-06 — Page 2

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SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 1976

SECOND MENTAL HOSPITAL

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THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION WORK ON A SECOND MENTAL HOSPITAL AT LAI CHI KOK NEXT MONTH.

ESTIMATED TO COST ABOUT $64 MILLION, THE NEW HOSPITAL WILL PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL 1,304 HOSPITAL BEDS WHICH SHOULD GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS EASING THE PRESSURE ON EXISTING FACILITIES AT CASTLE PEAK HOSPITAL.

THE HOSPITAL WILL BE BUILT ON THE UPPER LEVEL OF THE NORTHERN END OF THE PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL SITE AND WILL CATER MAINLY FOR PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS WHOSE CONDITION IS AMENABLE TO TREATMENT, AND FOR VOLUNTARY AND INFIRMARY PATIENTS (1.E. PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM BOTH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DISEASES).

MR. EDWIN WONG, PUD ARCHITECT, SAID TODAY THE NEW HOSPITAL HAD BEEN DESIGNED AS A MULTI-LEVEL DEVELOPMENT SO AS TO LEAVE AS MUCH SPACE AS POSSIBLE FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES.

+ IN A MENTAL HOSPITAL,+ HE SAID, +GREATER PROVISION HAS TO BE MADE FOR RECREATIONAL, OCCUPATIONAL AND PHYSIOTHERAPIC ACTIVITIES THAN IN A GENERAL HOSPITAL BECAUSE OF THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF MENTAL PATIENTS.

+ADEQUATE PROVISION FOR THIS HAS BEEN MADE IN THE DESIGN AND TOGETHER WITH GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS TO REDUCE THE INSTITUTIONAL CHARACTER OF THE BUILDING COMPLEX, A LARGE GARDEN AS WELL AS A ROOF GARDEN WILL BE PROVIDED.+

OTHER RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, HE ADDED, WOULD INCLUDE A THEATRE FOR FILM SHOWS, CONCERTS OR INDOOR SPORTS, SHOP AND SOFT DRINK BAR, HAIRDRESSING SALOON, A LIBRARY AND READING ROOM AS AIDS TO REHABILITATION.

A FOOTBALL PITCH AND A BASKETBALL COURT ARE ALREADY IN EXISTENCE TO SERVE BOTH THE NEW LAI CHI KOK HOSPITAL AND THE SECOND MENTAL HOSPITAL.

THE MENTAL HOSPITAL, MR. WONG SAID, WOULD OCCUPY ABOUT ONE-QUARTER OF THE 10.8 HECTARE (27.15-ACRE) SITE AND WOULD COMPRISE ONE 11-STOREY WARD BLOCK FOR MALE PATIENTS AND ONE EIGHT-STOREY WARD BLOCK FOR FEMALE PATIENTS.

+BOTH BLOCKS WILL BE LINKED WITH A FOUR-STOREY CLINICAL AND SERVICE BLOCK BY A SYSTEM OF SUBWAYS, THUS LEAVING AS MUCH GROUND AS POSSIBLE TO BE LANDSCAPED AS RECREATIONAL GARDENS SUPPLEMENTED BY ALL AVAILABLE ROOF AREAS WHICH WILL ALSO BE DEVELOPED FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES+ HE ADDED.

/PROVISION