TNAG-0735-FCO40-939-Policy-objective-for-the-developing-of-Hong-Kong-in-the-1980-1978 — Page 36

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improvements at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital has already been submitted for inclusion in the Public Works Programme. Also, plans for a modern and up-to-date paediatric unit has been inoorporated in the Teaching Hospital

at Shatin.

Jordan Valley

I am most grateful to Miss Bennett for giving me this opportunity to inform the Council of our plans for providing more medical facilities in the East Kowloon area. Miss Bennett will no doubt be glad to hear that the MDAC has already endorsed my Department's recommendations for the provision of a major acute hospital to be located in the arca just off Clear Water Bay Road. This is envisaged to be completed in the mid-1980s subject to the provision of funds. In the meantime, various projects aimed at improving the medical and health facilities in the East Kowloon area are already in the pipeline. These include a large clinic catering for day patient facilities which is expected to be completed in 1980 in Ngau Tau Kok; a $45 million health centre will also be built by 1981/82; a polyclinic at Hammerhill Road is expected to come up in the same

Another general clinic at Lam Tin will be built in 1982 to be followed by a polyclinic at Kwun Tong later. with all these additional facilities, I am confident that medical and health needs in this area will be met

year.

satisfactorily.

The commissioning of new hospitals and clinics involve not only the construction of complex projects but also the recruitment and retention of qualified personnel as well as the exercise of management skills. Of course, these requirements are away present in the operation of any institutions but they are expected to be more acute in the commissioning of new units. I feel it will not be out of place for me at this point to record my appreciation of the devotion and dedication of all rnaks and for their forebearance and patience in the face of ceasless pressure in their service to the public in all my departments' institutions. I am well aware of the problems and frustrations that the staff have often to face.

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