XN000022-1983-03-25 — Page 11

SHADAY, MARCH 25, 1983

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HE SAID THE PROJECT ENVISAGED THE UPGRADING OF THE 280-BED SAATORIUM TO A 432-BED GENERAL HOSPITAL WITH PROVISION FOR THE ULTIMATE BED-CAPACITY TO BE INCREASED TO 600.

THE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT WILL TAKE PLACE IN THREE PHASES

WITH THE TARGET DATE OF COMPLETION IN 1988.

THE CAPITAL COST OF THE PROJECT IS ESTIMATED AT $158-MILLION, WITH THE GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTING $127-MILLION AND THE REMAINING $31-MILLION TO BE RAISED BY THE HONG KONG TUBERCULOSIS, CHEST AND HEART DISEASES ASSOCIATION WHICH RUNS THE SANATORIUM.

TURNING TO THE SUBJECT OF LUNG CANCER, DR THONG SAID THE NUMBER OF DEATHS IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 1982 WAS 1 456 COMPARED WITH 1 362 IN THE SAME PERIOD IN 1981.

+THIS DISEASE THUS CONTINUES ITS INEXORABLE COURSE WITH THE NUMBER OF DEATHS INCREASING BY APPROXIMATELY EIGHT PER CENT EVERY YEAR,+ HE SAID.

DR THONG SAID THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING ACTIVE STEPS TO DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM SMOKING, BUT HE CAUTIONED THAT THESE MEASURES WERE LONG TERM AND NO EARLY AND DRAMATIC FALL IN THE NUMBER OF DEATHS COULD BE EXPECTED.

+BRONCHOGENIC CARCINOMA IS LINKED TO SMOKING AND EVENTUALLY A REDUCTION IN THE LEVEL OF CIGARETTE SMOKING IN THE POPULATION OF HONG KONG WILL LEAD TO A REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF CASES DYING FROM CANCER OF THE LUNG. HE SAID.

SPONSORS PRAISED FOR CONTRIBUTION TO EDUCATION

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THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, TODAY (FRIDAY) PRAISED SPONSORING BODIES FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION IN DEVELOPING HONG KONG'S EDUCATION SERVICE.

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE LOK SIN TONG WONG CHUNG MING SECONDARY SCHOOL IN SAN PO KONG, KOWLOON, MR LEUNG SAID SINCE 1965, THE GOVERNMENT HAD FOLLOWED ITS STATED POLICY OF EXPANDING ÉDUCATION THROUGH THE AIDED SCHOOL SYSTEM AS FAR AS POSSIBLE.

+THIS POLICY HAD PROVED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN POOLING RESOURCES AND AT THE SAME TIME GIVING ENTHUSIASTIC AND EXPERIENCED COMMUNITY LEADERS AND BODIES A CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EDUCATION OF OUR YOUNGER GENERATION, HE SAID.

OVER THE YEARS, THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN WORKING WELL WITH THE SPONSORING BODIES.

MR LEUNG SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN GRANTING FREE LAND AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO MANY OF THESE BODIES TO ENABLE THEM TO BUILD NON-PROFIT-MAKING SCHOOLS IN AREAS OUTSIDE PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES.

+ORGANISATIONS WHICH ARE OPERATING SCHOOLS BUILT BY THE GOVERNMENT INSIDE PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES ONLY HAVE TO PAY THE COST OF THE NECESSARY FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT AND A NOMINAL RENT.

+KS AND