XN000022-1986-08-28 — Page 4

THURSDAY,, AUGUST 28, 1986

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TUEN MUN HOSPITAL TOPPED OUT

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THE TOPPING OUT OF TUEN MUN HOSPITAL, THE LARGEST CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WAS PERFORMED TODAY (THURSDAY) BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES.

THE HOSPITAL, SIR DAVID SAID, WAS A MILESTONE IN THE OVERALL PROGRAMME OF IMPROVING THE DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC HOSPITALS WHICH WOULD INCREASE THE NUMBER OF HOSPITAL BEDS BY 14 000 OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

+THIS HOSPITAL, TOGETHER WITH THE EXPANSION OF YAN CHAI AND POK OI, NOT ONLY REINFORCES MEDICAL SERVICES IN THE NORTHWEST OF HONG KONG, IT IS A FURTHER EXAMPLE OF GOVERNMENT'S CONCERN THAT FACILITIES IN THE NORTHWEST, WHICH IS A LONG WAY FROM KOWLOON, SHOULD NOT DROP BEHIND OTHER PARTS OF THE TERRITORY, HE SAID.

THREE OTHER HOSPITALS WERE BEING PLANNED FOR COMPLETION IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS: THE HONG KONG EASTERN DISTRICT HOSPITAL WITH 1 600 BEDS, AND TAI PO AND EASTERN KOWLOON EACH WITH 1 500 BEDS.

THESE WOULD ENSURE THAT EVERYONE IN HONG KONG LIVED NEAR TO THEIR OWN REGIONAL HOSPITAL.

+BUT MEDICAL FACILITIES ARE NOT JUST MEASURED IN BUILDINGS AND BEDS, WE NEED TO GET THE BEST OUT OF THE SYSTEM- THE CONSULTANCY ON MEDICAL SERVICES IN HOSPITALS HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS AND WILL BE OF GREAT HELP IN ACHIEVING THIS OBJECTIVE, SIR DAVID SAID.

+WE MUST ALSO BE CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED TO LEAD A HEALTHY

LIFE.+

THIS YEAR, THE GOVERNMENT HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT HAD ADOPTED THE THEME OF +HEALTHY LIVING EVERYONE A WINNER+ WHICH WOULD CULMINATE IN A MAJOR CAMPAIGN IN NOVERMBER.

+1 CONCLUDE BY WISHING YOU ALL GOOD HEALTH AND HAPPY LIVING.

+1 ALSO CONGRATULATE ALL THOSE CONCERNED FOR THEIR EFFORTS TOWARDS THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THIS TUEN MUN HOSPITAL,+ HE SAID.

THE HOSPITAL, DUE FOR COMPLETION IN 1988, WILL HAVE 1 656 BEDS AND COST ABOUT $2 000 MILLION.

IT WILL SERVE TUEN MUN NEW TOWN AND THE NORTHERN REGIONS OF THE WEST NEW TERRITORIES.

THE EIGHT-HECTARE SITE ON WHICH IT IS BEING BUILT CLOSE TO CASTLE PEAK HOSPITAL WAS DELIBERATELY CHOSEN FOR ITS ACCESS TO BUS SERVICES AND THE FUTURE TUEN MUN LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM.

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/BESIDES THE