XN000022-1981-05-27 — Page 18

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1981

17 -

DENTAL HOSPITAL GAINS WIDE PRAISE

****

THE BILL WHICH PROVIDES FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BOARD OF GOVERNORS FOR THE PRINCE PHILIP DENTAL HOSPITAL WAS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, THE HON LYDIA DUNN SAID THE IMAGINATIVE AND INNOVATIVE LAYOUT OF THE HOSPITAL AND ITS MODERN FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT HAVE ALREADY DRAWN MUCH PRAISE AND ADMIRATION FROM INTERNATIONAL LEADERS IN DENTISTRY WHO HAVE SO FAR VISITED THE COMPLEX BUILDING.

+ALL HAVE AGREED THAT, WHEN IT IS FULLY COMMISSIONED AND OPERATIONAL IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR, HONG KONG WILL HAVE IN THE PRINCE PHILIP HOSPITAL ONE OF THE MOST MODERN AND BEST EQUIPPED DENTAL HOSPITALS IN THE WORLD, SHE SAID.

AS CHAIRMAN OF THE PROVISIONAL BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE HOSPITAL, MISS DUNN NOTED THAT THE HIGH COST OF PROVIDING DENTAL EDUCATION AND THE RELATIVELY LOW PRIORITY ACCORDED TO IT IN MOST COUNTRIES HAVE MEANT THAT EVEN IN THE MOST ADVANCED WESTERN COUNTRIES EXISTING DENTAL SCHOOLS ARE REFURBISHED AND REHOUSED ONLY INFREQUENTLY,

SAID MISS DUNN: +IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, FACILITIES FOR DENTAL EDUCATION USUALLY HAVE TO BE PROVIDED ON AN INCREMENTAL BASIS AND IT TAKES SOME YEARS FOR THE QUALITY OF THEIR DENTAL GRADUATES TO MEET ACCEPTED INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS.

BUT WITH THE PRINCE PHILIP DENTAL HOSPITAL WE WILL NOT ONLY BE INSTITUTING A DENTAL DEGREE COURSE DE NOVE, BUT WILL BE PRODUCING 60 GRADUATES A YEAR HOLDING A QUALIFICATION OF AN INTERNATIONALLY-ACCEPTED STANDARD.+

SHE SAID HER BOARD WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO RUNNING AN EFFICIENT HOSPITAL IN CLOSE COOPERATION WITH ALL CONCERNED, PARTICULARLY THE ACADEMIC STAFF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG.

+1 HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE UNIVERSITY'S REPRESENTATIVES ON THE BOARD WILL PUT FORWARD THE ACADEMIC VIEWPOINT FORCEFULLY,

+I THINK THAT PRESENTLY ENVISAGED ARRANGEMENTS FOR ADVICE AND CONSULTATION WILL PROVE TO BE PERFECTLY ADEQUATE, BUT THEY CAN ALWAYS BE REVIEWED AND RECONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE, + SHE ADDED.

DR THE HON RAYSON HUANG SHARED THE VIEWS OF MISS DUNN THAT TRAINING OF DENTISTS IS A COMPLETELY NEW ENTERPRISE IN HONG KONG.

IT REQUIRES THE CLOSEST OF PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY AND THE HOSPITAL BOARD TO ENSURE THAT THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT ARE EFFECTIVELY AND ECONOMICALLY MET, HE SAID.

+THE ACADEMIC AND THE LAYMAN MUST UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER'S LEGITIMATE INTERESTS IF WE ARE TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL SYSTEM.

/+IN THIS