XN000022-1976-04-29 — Page 5

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1976

FIRST CONTRACT SIGNED FOR SECOND MENTAL HOSPITAL

******

HONG KONG'S SECOND MENTAL HOSPITAL AT LAI CHI KOK IS ABOUT TO GET OFF THE GROUND WITH CONSTRUCTION ON THE $64 MILLION PROJECT TO BEGIN IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

THE FIRST CONTRACT, WORTH $14 MILLION, HAS BEEN AWARDED TO ON LEE AND COMPANY AND WAS OFFICIALLY SIGNED IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT'S ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE THIS (THURSDAY) MORNING.

MR. EDWIN WONG, CHIEF P.W.D. ARCHITECT, SIGNED ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT AND MR. SIU HON-SUM, PROPRIETOR OF ON LEE AND CO., SIGNED FOR THE COMPANY.

THE FIRST CONTRACT COVERS CONSTRUCTION OF THE FOUNDATIONS AND SUPERSTRUCTURE OF TWO MULTI-STOREY WARD BLOCKS ONE FOR MALE AND THE OTHER FOR FEMALE PATIENTS. THESE STRUCTURES SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY DECEMBER NEXT YEAR.

TENDERS FOR THE REMAINING WORKS ARE EXPECTED TO BE INVITED NEXT YEAR AND THE WHOLE PROJECT SHOULD BE COMPLETED LATE 1979.

DESIGNED BY THE P.W.D.'S ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE, THE NEW MENTAL HOSPITAL WILL PROVIDE AN EXTRA 1,304 HOSPITAL BEDS AND SHOULD GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS EASING THE PRESSURE ON EXISTING FACILITIES AT CASTLE PEAK HOSPITAL.

IT WILL BE BUILT ON PART OF A 27-ACRE SITE ON WHICH THE PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL OPPOSITE MEI FU SUN CHUEN HAS ALREADY BEEN BUILT. THE NEW MENTAL HOSPITAL WILL CATER MAINLY FOR PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS WHOSE CONDITION IS AMENABLE TO TREATMENT, AND FOR VOLUNTARY AND INFIRMARY PATIENTS,

IN PLANNING THE NEW HOSPITAL, MR. WONG SAID, THE P.W.D. ARCHITECTS HAD OPTED FOR A MULTI-LEVEL' DESIGN SO AS TO LEAVE AS MUCH OPEN SPACE AS POSSIBLE FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES.

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

+THE HOSPITAL PROPER HAS THEREFORE BEEN DESIGNED AS A HIGH RISE DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL OCCUPY ONLY ABOUT ONE-QUARTER OF THE 27-ACRE SITE LEAVING THE REST TO BE LANDSCAPED.

TO REDUCE THE INSTITUTIONAL CHARACTER OF THE BUILDING COMPLEX. HE ADDED, A LARGE GARDEN AS WELL AS A ROOF GARDEN WOULD BE PROVIDED TO ENHANCE THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT.

/OTHER