XN000022-1982-10-29 — Page 2

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1982

WARM WELCOME FOR DUCHESS

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HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS OF KENT WAS GIVEN A WARM WELCOME BY CONVALESCING CHILDREN WHEN SHE VISITED THE DUCHESS OF KENT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AT SANDY BAY THIS MORNING.

ACCOMPANIED BY HER LADY IN WAITING, MRS PETER WILMOT-SI TWELL, HER ROYAL HIGHNESS ARRIVED AT THE HOSPITAL, WHICH IS NAMED AFTER HER, IN BRIGHT SUNNY WEATHER AND WAS GREETED BY THE HOSPITAL'S CHAIRMAN, MR BRIAN TISDALL, WHO PRESENTED EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER MÁS V. PETERSON, THE HOSPITAL'S MATRON, MRS P.Y. IU, THE HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR MRS 1.L. GUNARATNAM, AND THE MEDICAL SUPER INTENDENT, DR LOUIS HSU.

BEFORE BEING TAKEN ON A TOUR OF THE VARIOUS FACILITIES IN THE HOSPITAL, THE DUCHESS WAS CONDUCTED TO THE BASKETBALL COURT WHERE SHE WAS GREETED BY SOME CHILDREN PERFORMING A DANCE OF WELCOME ON WHEEL-CHAIRS.

FROM THERE THE DUCHESS WENT TO THE RED CROSS SCHOOL AND THEN TO THE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AND CHILD ASSESSMENT

DEPARTMENT. SHE NEXT VISITED THE ORTHOPAEDIC APPLIANCE DEPARTMENT AND THEPHYSIOTHERAPY DEPARTMENT, AND SAW CHILDREN RECEIVING TREATMENT. ONE OF THE CHILDREN CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF THE DUCHESS WHO WENT OVER AND CARRIED THE CHILD.

A YOUNG BOY DOING PHYSIOTHERAPY EXERCISE ON A MINI-TRAMPOLINE NEXT CAUGHT THE EYE OF THE DUCHESS, WHO WALKED OVER TO CHAT WITH HIM.

AT THE SWIMMING POOL NEXT DOOR, HER ROYAL HIGHNESS WATCHED MORE CHILDREN EXERCISING WITH THE AID OF FLOATS AND BENT OVER TO PLAY WITH ONE OF THEM.

HER ROYAL HIGHNESS SPENT MORE THAN AN HOUR WITH THE CHILDREN, AND THEN JOINED HOSPITAL STAFF AT LUNCH. THE DUCHESS OF KENT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, WHICH PROVIDES FREE TREATMENT, REHABILITATION AND SCHOOLING FOR DISABLED CHILDREN, IS ONE OF THE LARGEST OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD, AND THE ONLY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN HONG KONG.

IT HAS 200 BEDS, A LARGE OUT-PATIENT DEPARTMENT, A MODERN FULLY-EQUIPPED OPERATING THEATRE SUITE, A TWO-BEDDED INTENSIVE CARE UNIT WITH ELECTRONIC MONITORING DEVICES, FACILITIES FOR CARDIO-RESPIRATORY RESUSCITATION AND VENTILATORY SUPPORT, AND A PHARMACY.

IT WAS NAMED AFTER THE DUCHESS OF KENT IN FEBRUARY 1970 FOLLOWING A VISIT, WHEN HER ROYAL HIGHNESS WAS GREATLY IMPRESSED WITH THE SERVICES PROVIDED.

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