XN000022-1993-06-09 — Page 39

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 1993

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MORE HOSPITAL BEDS PLANNED FOR KOWLOON

* * * * *

THE EXISTING OVERALL SUPPLY OF PUBLIC HOSPITAL REDS TN THE KOWLOON REGION IS 6,453, AS AGAINST A DEMAND OF 4,930.

BY THE YEAR 2000, THE SUPPLY IS ESTIMATED TO REACH 7,603 COMPARED WITH A DEMAND OF 5,060.

THE STATISTICS WERE GIVEN BY THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS SHELLEY LAU, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LI WAH-MING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

TURNING ΤΟ THE EXTENSION WORKS AT THE UNITED CHRISTIAN HOSPITAL, MRS LAU SAID PHASE I OF THE NEW BLOCK S WHICH WOULD PROVIDE 1,049 BEDS, STARTED IN JANUARY THIS YEAR AND WAS SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION IN DECEMBER 1994.

AS REGARDS PHASE II OF THE REFURBISHMENT OF BLOCK P, WORK WILL START TOWARDS THE END OF 1995. IT IS DUE FOR COMPLETION IN 1997 WHEN THE NUMBER OF BEDS WILL BE REDUCED FROM THE EXISTING 663 TO 368.

"UPON COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT, THE UNITED CHRISTIAN HOSPITAL WILL PROVIDE A TOTAL OF 1,417 BEDS, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 754 OVER ITS EXISTING BED COMPLEMENT OF 663, MRS LAU SAID.

0

REVIEW ON STREET SLEEPERS COMPLETED

**

THE WORKING GROUP SET UP BY THE GOVERNMENT IN SEPTEMBER 1991 TO REVIEW ISSUES RELATING то STREET SLEEPERS HAS COMPLETED ITS DELIBERATIONS AND A DRAFT REPORT IS ALMOST READY.

THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE GROUP ARE EXPECTED TO

BE RELEASED IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS SHELLEY LAU, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MRS PEGGY LAM IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MRS LAU TOLD COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WORKING GROUP HAD ALREADY BEEN IMPLEMENTED.

"THESE INCLUDE THE URBAN HOSTEL SCHEME FOR STREET SLEEPERS AND THE MORE FLEXIBLE APPLICATION OF COMPASSIONATE REHOUSING CRITERIA FOR STREET SLEEPERS, SHE SAID.

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"THE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED SUBJECT TO VIEWS OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND TO THE AVAILABILITY RESOURCES." MRS LAU ADDED.

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