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HONEDAY, DECEWART 18. 198

MR CHAMBERS SAII THE PLANNED SUPPLY OF DOCTORS AND NURSES SHOULD ALSO BE SUFFICIENT TO ENABLE THE STAFFING NEEDS OF THE PLANNED MAJOR NEW HOSPITALS TO BE MET.

HE SAID THAT THE SUPPLY WOULD BE BOOSTED BY THE OUTPUT OF QUALIFIED DOCTORS FROM THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY, BEGINNING IN 1987.

THE INTAKE OF NURSE TRAINING SCHOOLS WAS ALSO BEING INCREASED WITH A VIEW TO MEETING THE NURSING REQUIREMENTS OF NEW AND EXPANDED HOSPITALS, INCLUDING THE EASTERN DISTRICT HOSPITAL, MR CHAMBERS SAID.

+THUS, BY PRESENT INDICATIONS, THERE IS NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT STAFF TURNOVER AND VACANCY RATES WILL LEAD TO DELAYS IN DEVELOPING THE EASTERN DISTRICT HOSPITAL OR OTHER MAJOR MEDICAL PROJECTS, HE ADDED.

TUEN MUN HOSPITAL TO BE COMPLETED IN 1988

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THE TUEN MUN HOSPITAL IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED BY EARLY 1988 AND. ALLOWING FOR THE USUAL 12-MONTH COMMISSIONING PERIOD, TO BE FULLY OPERATIONAL BY EARLY 1989, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING IN WRITING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON TAI CHIN-WAH, MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT WITH REGARD TO THE HIGHLY TECHNICAL AND COMPLEX NATURE OF HOSPITAL BUILDINGS, IT WAS NOT CONSIDERED FEASIBLE TO SHORTEN THE PERIOD TO ENABLE THE HOSPITAL TO BE COMPLETED AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

THE WORK ON THE SUPERSTRUCTURE OF THE HOSPITAL STARTED AT THE END OF AUGUST 1984, AND THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD WAS ESTIMATED TO BE THREE AND A HALF YEARS, HE SAID.

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