TNAG-1361-FCO40-1807-Hong-Kong-Hansard-reports-and-minutes-of-the-meetings-of-the-1985 — Page 320

Sir,

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STATEMENT BY HON LYDIA DUNN, CBE, LLD, JP

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

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23.1.1985

Report on the Prince Philip Dental Hospital for the period 1.4.1983 - 31.3.1984

Tabled today is a report on the activities of the Prince

Philip Dental Hospital together with a statement of accounts for

the financial year from 1st April 1983 to 31st March 1984. During the year the Hospital continued to fulfil its role in providing training facilities for dental undergraduate students at the

University of Hong Kong and also for dental ancillary staff.

With the Prince Philip Dental Hospital Hong Kong has

acquired one of the most modern dental teaching facilities in the

world. The year was an important one in the development of the hospital. For the first time, a fourth year of dental students continued in their studies leading to the fifth and final year of

the dental curriculum. Most of these students have now completed their studies, and the Prince Philip Dental Hospital shares with

the Faculty of Dentistry a deep sense of pride in producing the

very first group of 59 locally trained dentists. Overseas examiners have spoken of their impressive qualities. This bears testimony not only to the knowledge and skills of the students but

also to the talents of their teachers.

There has been much discussion about the numbers of

dentists that the Hospital is training. Some say that already the

needs of the community have been satisfied and that job

opportunities for future graduates will be scarce. I do not think

so. I believe that the potential for the dental service to the

community has yet to be realised. People in Hong Kong still look upon dentistry as the response to pain or disease. There is scope

for greater awareness of preventive dentistry, for the spread of knowledge of oral hygiene and dental health care. Dentists will be needed in greater numbers, not only to participate in this educative process, but in responding to the more exacting standards of dental fitness that will come from a better educated

community.

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