XN000022-1979-01-05 — Page 3

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1979

AMBITIOUS EXPANSION PLANS FOR POK OI HOSPITAL

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED IN PRINCIPLE A SEVEN-YEAR DEVELOPMENT PLAN WHICH WILL ENABLE THE POK OI HOSPITAL TO EXPAND

ITS MEDICAL SERVICES TO CATER FOR THE FUTURE NEEDS OF THE NORTH WEST NEW TERRITORIES, THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

THE EXPANSION PLAN, DRAWN UP IN LINE WITH THE GROWTH

IN POPULATION IN THE AREA, IS SCHEDULED FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR.

THE PROGRAMME, MR. AKERS-JONES TOLD THE HOSPITAL'S ANNUAL DINNER, WAS DIVIDED INTO THREE PHASES -- THE FIRST INVOLVING THE CONSTRUCTION OF STAFF QUARTERS FOR DOCTORS AND NURSES, THE SECOND TO PROVIDE ANOTHER 200 BEDS, AN OPERATING THEATRE SUITE AND BACK-UP FACILITIES.

THE THIRD PHASE INVOLVED THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN ENLARGED OUT-PATIENT DEPARTMENT, A NEW CASUALTY WARD AND ADDITIONAL STAFF QUARTERS, MR. AKERS-JONES SAID.

A SITE HAS BEEN RESERVED IN AU TAU FOR THE FIRST STAGE WHICH IS EXPECTED TO COST ABOUT $5 MILLION. MR. AKERS-JONES SAID CONSTRUCTION WOULD START AS SOON AS APPROVAL IS OBTAINED FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

+ IN ITS SUBMISSION TO GOVERNMENT, MR. AKERS-JONES SAID, +THE HOSPITAL HAS APPLIED FOR A CAPITAL SUBVENTION OF THREE TO ONE TO FINANCE ITS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME.+

HE SAID THAT THIS FORMULA, IF APPROVED, WOULD REQUIRE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO RAISE A QUARTER OF THE CAPITAL COST - AT LEAST $1 MILLION A YEAR IN THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS.

HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT, IN THIS AGE OF RISING COSTS THE ACTUAL REQUIREMENT WOULD PROBABLY TURN OUT TO BE MORE .

+THIS AMBITIOUS BUT REALISTIC PROGRAMME IS TYPICAL OF THE WHOLE HISTORY OF POK OF HOSPITAL,+ MR. AKERS-JONES SAID.

+ IT IS THE HISTORY OF GENERATIONS OF LOCAL PEOPLE DEVOTING THEIR TIME AND RESOURCES TOWARDS THE BETTERMENT OF THEIR COMMUNITY.

+AND IT DEMONSTRATES AN INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AND A CONCERN FOR THOSE THINGS WHICH RELIEVE HARDSHIP AND PROVIDE A BETTER LIFE FOR THE PEOPLE, HE ADDED.

HE RECALLED THAT POK 01 HOSPITAL OPENED IN 1919 AS A SMALL CHINESE HERBALIST CLINIC DEPENDENT WHOLLY ON PRIVATE DONATIONS AND, NOW AS A GOVERNMENT SUBVENTED DISTRICT HOSPITAL WITH 218 BEDS, IT WAS PLAYING AN IMPORTANT PART IN THE OVERALL PROVISION OF MEDICAL SERVICES IN THE WHOLE OF THE NORTH WEST NEW TERRITORIES.

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