XN000022-1977-05-31 — Page 4

TUESDAY, MAY 31, 1977

CLINICAL PATHOLOGY BUILDING FOR KWONG WAH HOSPITAL

GOVT. TO ALLOCATE OVER $13M IN CAPITAL OUTLAY ******

THE GOVERNMENT HAS AGREED TO ALLOCATE MORE THAN $13 MILLION IN CAPITAL OUTLAY TO ENABLE KWONG WAH HOSPITAL TO CONSTRUCT A CLINICAL PATHOLOGY BUILDING WHICH WILL PROVIDE A FULL RANGE OF PATHOLOGY SERVICES AND FACILITIES FOR TRAINING LABORATORY TECHNICIANS FOR THE ACUTE HOSPITAL.

THE PROJECT IS ESTIMATED TO COST $17 MILLION, THE BALANCE TO BE MET BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS THROUGH ITS FUND RAISING ACTIVITIES.

THE GOVERNMENT WILL ALSO PROVIDE AN ANNUALLY RECURRENT SUBVENTION AMOUNTING TO $1,870,000 TO MEET THE COST OF EXTRA STAFF NEEDED TO MAINTAIN THE EXPANDED SERVICES.

CONSTRUCTION WORK WILL BEGIN LATER THIS YEAR AND IS

EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN EARLY 1979.

THE 10-STOREY CLINICAL PATHOLOGY BUILDING WILL PROVIDE SPACE FOR KWONG WAH HOSPITAL TO EXPAND ITS EXISTING X-RAY DEPARTMENT, DISPENSARY STORE, INSTRUMENT STORE AND MEDICAL RECORDS OFFICE.

IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE ACCOMMODATION FOR ESTABLISHING A PHYSIOTHERAPY UNIT, AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY UNIT, A MEDICAL SOCIAL SERVICE AND AN ADDITIONAL ORTHOPAEDIC WARD.

THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CLINICAL PATHOLOGY BUILDING AT KWONG WAH HOSPITAL IS IN KEEPING WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH REGIONALISATION PLAN, THE OBJECT OF WHICH IS TO SECURE A MORE EVEN USE OF BEDS AVAILABLE IN GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNMENT-ASSISTED HOSPITALS.

UNDER THE REGIONAL ISATION SCHEME, INTRODUCED AS FROM APRIL 1 THIS YEAR, KWONG WAH HOSPITAL NOW SERVES AS THE REGIONAL HOSPITAL FOR WEST KOWLOON, PROVIDING THE REGION WITH ALL MAJOR SPECIALIST SERVICES.

APART FROM IMPROVING SERVICES AT KWONG WAH HOSPITAL, THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO APPROVED EXTRA FUNDS TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR BRINGING INTO USE ADDITIONAL BEDS AT THE NEW CENTENARY BUILDING OF THE TUNG WAH HOSPITAL AND GRANTHAM HOSPITAL,

THE 106 ADDITIONAL BEDS TO BE BROUGHT INTO USE AT THE CENTENARY BUILDING AND THE 90 BEDS TO BE CONVERTED AT GRANTHAM HOSPITAL FOR CONVALESCENT PATIENTS WOULD HELP EASE THE CONGESTION AT QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL.