XN000022-1983-11-25 — Page 2

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1983

GOVERNOR PRAISES PEOPLE FOR HOSPITAL WORK

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YAN CHAI HOSPITAL FORMS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE REGIONAL PLAN FOR THE EXPANSION OF MEDICAL SERVICES TO SERVE THE NEW TOWNS, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

THE PLAN INCLUDES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A HOSPITAL AT TUEN MUN, THE EXPANSION OF THE POK 01 HOSPITAL IN YUEN LONG, AND THE OPENING OF THE PRINCE OF WALES HOSPITAL AT SHA TIN, THUS PROVIDING A RING OF MEDICAL FACILITIES AROUND THE TERRITORY WITHIN EASY REACH FOR THE PUBLIC, THE GOVERNOR SAID.

OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE NEW STAFF QUARTERS AND POLYCLINIC OF THE YAN CHAI HOSPITAL IN TSUEN WAN, SIR EDWARD SAID, THE CEREMONY MARKS THE SECOND PHASE OF AN AMBITIOUS FOUR-STAGE EXPANSION PROGRAMME TO UPGRADE THE HOSPITAL INTO A DISTRICT HOSPITAL WITH 700 BEDS BY 1986.+

THE PRESENT PHASE, COSTING SOME $57 MILLION, OWED ITS SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION TO THE FORESIGHT, ENTHUSIASM AND FUND RAISING EFFORTS OF THE DIRECTORS, TO GENEROUS DONATIONS FROM CIVIC-SPIRTED INDIVIDUALS LIKE MR WU CHUNG AND FROM THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB, AND ALSO TO THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND PROFESSIONAL ADVICE FROM THE GOVERNMENT, HE SAID.

THE GOVERNOR SAID 20 YEARS AGO TSUEN WAN WAS AN INDUSTRIAL TOWN WITH VERY FEW FACILITIES AND AMENITIES. COMMUNITY LEADERS THEN GAVE THEIR TIME, HONEY AND ENERGY TO ESTABLISH YAN CHAI TO MEET ONE OF THE MOST VITAL NEEDS OF THIS FAST-GROWING AREA.

+OVER THE YEARS, IT HAS GROWN IN IMPORTANCE AS A DISTRICT MEDICAL CENTRE SERVING A TOWN WHICH NOW HAS A POPULATION OF 650.000 AND SOME 10 000 FACTORIES. THE BOARD OF YAN CHAI ALSO PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL AND WELFARE FACILITIES AND PLAYS AN ACTIVE ROLE IN LOCAL COMMUNITY LIFE. IN TURN, THE PEOPLE OF TSUEN WAN GIVE STRONG SUPPORT TO THE HOSPITAL IN ITS FUND RAISING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, HE ADDED.

NOTING THAT THE OPENING CEREMONY COINCIDES WITH THE HOSPITAL'S 10TH ANNIVERSARY, SIR EDWARD CONGRATULATED THE DIRECTORS OF THE YAN CHAI HOSPITAL AND ALL THOSE WHO HAD BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH ITS WORK AND WISHED THE HOSPITAL EVERY SUCCESS IN THE YEARS TO COME.

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