XN000022-1981-10-15 — Page 13

IS

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN-SUPPLEMENT

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG TEL: 5-233191

SPEECH BY H.E. THE GOVERNOR, STR MURRAY MACLEHOSE,

GRE, KOMG, KCVO, AT THE OPENING OF KWAI CHUNG HOSPITAL ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15TH 1981

In this, The International Year of Disabled Persons, it gives

me great pleasure to open the Kwai Chung Hospital.

Progress made in Hong Kong's medical services over the last

two decades has been dramatic and is internationally recognised.

Today

we pass another milestone, for the opening of this new hospital increases the number of beds for the mentally ill by 60 per cent. Only 20 years ago all

we had was a small hospital for the mentally ill in High Street where

out-patient consultations were held only two or three times a week.

Today our various psychiatric facilities include around 3 700 beds,

180 day hospital places and 25 consultation rooms.

Of course much more must be done. The professional trend is

towards out-patient treatment for the mentally ill wherever possible,

and this involves facilities being easily accessible. Accordingly our plans include four day hospitals and four psychiatric clinics to be

built in East Kowloon and the New Territories over the next five years.

Similarly, in addition to beds to be provided at the Queen Mary

extension, the new Regional hospitals at Tuen Mun and Sha Tin will each

have a psychiatric unit.

Recent advances in mental health care mean that the majority

of those who become mentally ill will recover provided they receive proper treatment; and as with physical illness the earlier the treatment

the greater the chance of complete and rapid recovery.

It is our hope that this great hospital, we open today

together with the other facilities I have mentioned, will make the oure

of the mentally ill in Hong Kong both quicker and surer. It gives me great pleasure to declare the Kwai Chung Hospital open.