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St. John Hospital

299. This hospital, situated on the island of Cheung Chau, is the property of the St. John Ambulance Association and Brigade, but since the war, by agreement, it has been staffed and maintained by Govern- ment. It not only offers in-patient and out-patient facilities to Cheung Chau's population but also serves as a base hospital for the floating clinic covering the Colony's south western waters and a convenient centre for various specialist clinics-medical, tuberculosis, ophthalmic. social hygiene, maternal and child health and dental. Patients requiring major surgical procedures or other specialist in-patient treatment are transferred to the appropriate hospitals on Hong Kong Island. In addition to the general facilities, there is a 42-bed unit for the accom- modation of patients convalescing from pulmonary tuberculosis.

300. There were 2,085 in-patients treated during the year of whom 87 were transferred to hospitals in Hong Kong. There were 59,628 out- patient first attendances. The comparative figures for 1958 inpatients and outpatients were 2.212 and 56,870 respectively.

Prison Hospitals

301. Hospitals are maintained at the Stanley Male Prison, the Victoria Remand Prison, the Lai Chi Kok Female Prison, and the Tai Lam Centre for the treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts.

302. A1 Stanley Prison there is a hospital of 82 beds for the accom- modation of prisoners who require treatment for conditions that do not warrant transfer to another hospital. The bulk of the cases treated are suffering from the effects of drug addiction, from various minor psychiatric disturbances and from tuberculosis.

303. An important step in the development of psychiatric services was the secondment to the Prisons Department of a Psychiatrist, in November, 1959. This Psychiatrist attends to remand prisoners awaiting trial in the Victoria Remand Prison and pays regular visits to the Stanley Prison and the various Training Centres to advise on the numerous psychiatric and personality problems encountered amongst prisoners, particularly in relation to drug addiction.

304. At the Remand Prison in Victoria there is a small ward of eight beds for the treatment of acute illness. The duration of stay in the Remand Prison is necessarily short but there are a number of cases of acute illness, particularly amongst drug addicts suffering from withdrawal symptoms, which have to be treated in this ward.

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305. The effects of drug addiction amongst convicted prisoners is a major problem in H.M. Prisons and medical treatment during the period of withdrawal is followed by rehabilitation through routine occupation in prison workshops. The specialized prison for the treat- ment and rehabilitation of convicted male drug addicts maintained at Tai Lam Chung has given encouraging immediate results and it is striking to see the physical and psychological improvement which takes place within a relatively short period of weeks. However it is too early yet to gain any assessment of the relapse rate after discharge.

306. The female prison at Lai Chi Kok maintains a small hospital of ten beds under the supervision of the Medical Officer in charge of the Lai Chi Kak Hospital. Any cases of major illness are transferred to the custodial ward in the Kowloon Hospital.

Wan Chai Social Hygiene Hospital

307. This small 30-bed hospital was originally intended for the in- patient treatment of venereal discuse amongst women and children. However, modern methods of treatment have reduced the importance of this aspect of the work and the tendency is for this institution to become a centre for the treatment of patients with acute skin discase who are now being admitted more and more frequently.

308. There is a busy out-patient department for the treatment of women suffering from venereal disease and a large number of exam- inations of known contacts are carried out every year.

GOVERNMENT ASSISTED HOSPITALS

The Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital

309. This hospital, operated by the London Missionary Society, offers general medical, surgical and maternity care, There are 287 beds including a modern maternity section of 80 beds. There is also a large out-patient department. The hospital caters for all classes of patients but the major part of the work is amongst the poor. This valuable contribution towards the Colony's medical services is supported by a substantial annual subvention from Government funds. In spite of staffing difficulties encountered during the year, 6,941 in-patients were treated and there were 63.785 out-patient attendances.

Tung Wah Group of Hospitals

310. Established 90 years ago, the Tung Wah is a charitable organization providing medical care, primary school education and

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