XN000022-1983-06-01 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 1983

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CANCER RESEARCH FACILITIES EXPANDED

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LABORATORY FACILITIES FOR CANCER RESEARCH WILL BE GREATLY EXPANDED FOLLOWING THE RECENT COMPLETION OF THE NAM LONG HOSPITAL PHASE TWO EXTENSION PROJECT, THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR K.L. THONG SAID TODAY.

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE EXTENSION, DR THONG ALSO REVEALED THAT THERE WERE PLANS TO EXPAND THE HOSPITAL TO PROVIDE MORE BEDS OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

THE PHASE TWO EXTENSION PROJECT CONSISTS OF AN ADDITIONAL THREE STOREYS TO THE EXISTING TOWER BLOCK OF THE HOSPITAL, PROVIDING MORE LABORATORY FACILITIES AND DOCTORS QUARTERS.

+THE HONG KONG ANTI-CANCER SOCIETY HAS, IN THE PAST, BEEN FOSTERING AND FINANCING MANY RESEARCH PROJECTS CARRIED OUT IN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S INSTITUTE OF RADIOLOGY AND ONCOLOGY AND AT THE TWO UNIVERSITIES, WHERE RESEARCH LABORATORY SPACE IS VERY LIMITED, SAID DR THONG.

+THE COMPLETION OF TWO LABORATORY FLOORS IN THIS EXTENSION PROJECT WILL PROVIDE GREATLY ENHANCED LABORATORY FACILITIES FOR CANCER RESEARCH, HE ADDED.

DR THONG SAID THAT PLANS WERE ON HAND TO FURTHER EXPAND THE NAM LONG HOSPITAL IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL BEDSPACE TO THE 180-BED HOSPITAL.

HE SAID IT WOULD INVOLVE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW WING PARALLEL TO THE PRESENT MAIN BLOCK AND WOULD PROVIDE ADDITIONAL NURSES' QUARTERS AND COMMON ROOM FACILITIES AS WELL AS AN ADDITIONAL 120 BEDS BY 1985.

THE GOVERNMENT WAS AWARE THAT CANCER WAS A LEADING HEALTH PROBLEM IN THE COMMUNITY AND WAS PLANNING TO INCREASE RADIATION AND CHEMOTHERAPY FACILITIES, HE SAID.

+IN ADDITION TO WHAT IS ALREADY PROVIDED IN THE EXISTING GOVERNMENT REGIONAL HOSPITALS AND IN THE PRINCE OF WALES HOSPITAL IN THE NEAR FUTURE, SIMILAR FACILITIES WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE TUEN MUN HOSPITAL, SHAU KEI WAN HOSPITAL AND THE EAST KOWLOON HOSPITAL,+ DR THONG CONCLUDED.

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