XN000022-1977-12-10 — Page 3

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1977

HK'S SECOND MENTAL HOSPITAL TAKING SHAPE

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HONG KONG'S SECOND MENTAL HOSPITAL, NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT A SITE NEAR THE PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL IN LAI CHI KOK, IS TAK ING SHAPE.

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CONSTRUCTION OF THE MULTI-STOREY PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL OCCUPYING SEVEN ACRES OF LAND AND OVERLOOKING LAI CHI KOK BAY IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY 1980.

THE HOSPITAL WAS DESIGNED AS A MULTI-LEVEL PROJECT LEAVING AS MUCH SPACE AS POSSIBLE FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES. PROVISION WILL BE MADE FOR RECREATIONAL, OCCUPATIONAL AND

GREATER PHYSIOTHERAPIC ACTIVITIES THAN IN A GENERAL HOSPITAL BECUASE OF THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF MENTAL PATIENTS.

RECREATIONAL FACILITIES WILL INCLUDE A ROOF GARDEN- A THEATRE FOR FILM SHOWS, CONCERTS OR INDOOR SPORTS SHOP AND SOFT DRINK BAR= HAIRDRESSING SALOON- A LIBRARY- READING ROOMS- A FOOTBALL PITCH AND A BASKETBALL COURT.

AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF ABOUT $64 MILLION, THE NEW HOSPITAL WILL HAVE ONE 11-STOREY WARD BLOCK FOR MALE PATIENTS AND ONE EIGHT-STOREY WARD BLOCK FOR FEMALE PATIENTS. THERE WILL BE A TOTAL OF 34 WARDS WITH 1,304 BEDS.

THE TWO BLOCKS WILL BE LINKED WITH A FOUR-STOREY CLINICAL AND SERVICE BUILDING BY A SYSTEM OF SUBWAYS, THUS LEAVING AS MUCH GROUND AS POSSIBLE FOR LANDSCAPING.

PROVISIONS HAVE ALSO BEEN MADE TO INCLUDE A COVERED LINK WITH THE ADJACENT NURSES' TRAINING SCHOOL AND STAFF QUARTERS TO FACILITATE STAFF MOVING ABOUT IN INCLEMENT WEATHER.

THE NEW HOSPITAL WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS EASING THE PRESSURE ON EXISTING FACILITIES AT CASTLE PEAK HOSPITAL AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE.

THE CASTLE PEAK HOSPITAL, THE FIRST MENTAL HOSPITAL IN HONG KONG, WAS BUILT OVER A DECADE AGO. IT HAS AMPLE SPACE USED AS GARDENS AND GROUNDS FOR PATIENTS TO RELAX AND EXERCISE. THE HOSPITAL IS ONE OF THE INSTITUTIONS OF ITS KIND SET UP IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AFTER THE PACIFIC WAR. IT HAS BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PSYCHIATRISTS IN U.K. AS AN ACCREDITED TEACHING AND TRAINING HOSPITAL, AND LEADING PSYCHIATRISTS FROM OVERSEAS HAVE REGULARLY VISITED IT.

WITH THE RAPID GROWTH IN POPULATION IN RECENT YEARS AND THE INCREASING DEMAND FOR HOSPITAL BEDS INCLUDING THOSE FOR PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS, THE MEDICAL WHITE PAPER, PUBLISHED IN 1974, RECOMMENDED A SECOND MENTAL HOSPITAL BE BUILT TO COPE WITH THE NEED.

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