XN000022-1982-11-01 — Page 2

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1982

ROYAL OPENING FOR PRINCE OF WALES HOSPITAL

****

HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS OF KENT TODAY PRAISED HONG KONG FOR SETTING +EXCELLENT STANDARDS IN MEDICAL AND HEALTH CARE AS SHE OFFICIALLY DECLARED OPEN THE PRINCE OF WALES HOSPITAL AT SHA TIN.

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY, ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 500 COMMUNITY LEADERS, SHE SAID THAT THE COMPLETION OF THIS +MAGNIFICENT HOSPITAL WILL PROVIDE THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.

TO PROVIDE HEALTH SERVICES FOR MORE THAN FIVE MILLION PEOPLE IN A SMALL AREA MUST BE A DIFFICULT TASK AT THE BEST OF TIMES, SAID THE DUCHESS.

+YET, I SEE THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ENJOY VERY GOOD HEALTH DESPITE THE DENSITY OF THE POPULATION, SHE SAID,

THE NEW INSTITUTION, THE FIRST FULLY AIR-CONDITIONED GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL IN HONG KONG, COMPRISES A 1 448-BED HOSPITAL, A SPECIALIST CLINIC, A NURSE TRAINING SCHOOL AND STAFF QUARTERS.

THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR K.L. THONG, DESCRIBED THE PROJECT AS AN ULTRA-MODERN HOSPITAL OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS+ WHICH WILL SERVE AS A REGIONAL HOSPITAL FOR THE INCREASING POPULATION IN SHA TIN NEW TOWN AS WELL AS THE EASTERN PART OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THE HOSPITAL, WHICH IS NAMED AFTER HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE CHARLES, WILL ALSO SERVE AS A TEACHING HOSPITAL FOR THE TRAINING OF MEDICAL STUDENTS AND POST MEDICAL GRADUATES OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG.

+THIS IS A MOST ESSENTIAL FUNCTION AS THE FUTURE DOCTORS PASSING THROUGH THE PORTALS OF THE PRINCE OF WALES HOSPITAL WILL HELP TO A GREAT EXTENT, TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF MEDICAL SERVICES FOR US IN HONG KONG, DR THONG SAID.

ALSO ATTENDING THE OPENING CEREMONY WERE HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF KENT, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE AND LADY YOUDE AND MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS.

THE NEW HOSPITAL, WHICH WILL BECOME OPERATIONAL IN PHASES FROM THE LATTER HALF OF NEXT YEAR, WILL PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE FACILITIES IN ALL THE BASIC SPECIALTIES SUCH AS MEDICINE SURGERY, OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, ORTHOPAEDICS, GERIATRICS AND PAEDIATRICS.

THERE WILL ALSO BE SPECIALIST UNITS FOR PSYCHIATRY, CLINICAL ONCOLOGY, PHYSICAL MEDICINE, INTENSIVE CARE, RENAL DIALYSIS, BURNS AND PAEDIATRIC SURGERY.

ESSENTIAL SUPPORTING SERVICES FOR THE NEW HOSPITAL INCLUDE CLINICAL PATHOLOGY, X-RAY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, PHYSIOTHERAPY AND PROSTHETIC-ORTHOTIC SERVICES.

/APART FROM