XN000022-1980-12-01 — Page 3

MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1980

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PLANS FOR MEDICAL EXPANSION IN THE 80'S

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FIVE NEW MAJOR GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS ARE TO BE BUILT IN THE 80'S TO PROVIDE SOME 6 000 BEDS TO SERVE THE INCREASING POPULATION OF HONG KONG.

IN ADDITION, MAJOR EXTENSIONS ARE PLANNED IN THREE EXISTING REGIONAL HOSPITALS, AND A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF NEW CLINICS AND POLYCLINICS ARE BEING BUILT IN VARIOUS DISTRICTS.

THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN WAS OUTLINED BY THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR S.H. LEE, WHEN HE OFFICIATED AT THE OPENING OF THE AUSTRALIAN HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT DISPLAY AT THE NEW WORLD CENTRE THIS EVENING.

HE SAID THE DISPLAY TOOK PLACE AT THE MOST APPROPRIATE TIME AS THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WAS EMBARKING ON AN AMBITIOUS EXPANSION PROGRAMME OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH FACILITIES.

HE POINTED OUT THAT IN ADDITION TO THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE POPULATION WAS ALSO SERVED BY GOVERNMENT-SUBVENTED HOSPITALS AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS.

SEVERAL SUBVENTED HOSPITALS HAVE AMBITIOUS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES TO INCREASE HOSPITAL BEDS TO HELP MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, HE SAID.

+ADDITIONALLY THERE IS ALSO MUCH INTEREST IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN ESTABLISHING NEW HOSPITALS FOR THOSE WHO PREFER PRIVATE MEDICAL CARE,+ HE ADDED.

DR LEE SAID ALL THIS PLANNED DEVELOPMENT WOULD REQUIRE SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT IN NEW HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, WHICH IN THIS ERA OF RAPID TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT, WAS BECOMING

INCREASINGLY SPECIALISED AND SOPHISTICATED.

HE SAID AUSTRALIA HAD EMERGED AS A SOURCE OF A BROAD RANGE OF SOPHISTICATED HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT GEARED TOWARDS THE NEEDS OF MODERN MEDICINE AND PATIENT CARE.

+THIS EXHIBITION CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES THAT THE AUSTRALIAN HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY HAS THE CAPABILITY TO MAKE A PROMINENT CONTRIBUTION TO THE GROWING NEEDS OF HONG KONG IN THIS FIELD,+ SAID DR LEE.

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