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AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICE

412. Recruitment to the Auxiliary Medical Service was started in October, 1950, under the provisions of the Essential Services Corps Ordinance, 1950. The primary aim of the Service is to train and maintain a corps of men and women who are available to greatly augment the Colony's hospital and first-aid services during an emergency. During recent years, however, increasing use has been made to members of the Service to support Departmental staff during outbreaks of infectious diseases and during mass inoculation campaigns.

413. Up to June, 1961, those joining the Auxiliary Medical Service were both volunteer and conscripted members. On the abolition of conscription in that month, conscripted members had the opportunity either to become volunteers or to resign. The loss of conscripted mem- bers has been more than balanced by the volunteers recruited and the strength of the Service at 31st March, 1964, stood at over 5,000 men and women.

414. The Medical Defence Staff Officer is responsible for all routine administration and training activities, and the Director of Medical and Health Services is the Unit Controller. During a total Colony emergency, the ambulance and first-aid sections of the Service come under the operational control of the Civil Aid Services.

415. There are now 41 Ambulance Depot Teams spread over 24 districts of Hong Kong. Kowloon and the New Territories. Training has continued to progress satisfactorily throughout the year, and keen competitions for the 'MacKenzie' Shield, the 'Teng' Cup and the 'Small' Cup were of considerable value in improving the all-round efficiency of the teams.

416. Demonstrations were given on first-aid and artificial respiration during the Kai Fong Welfare Association's Health Education Exhibition. In the practical Geld, members of the service rendered first-aid to victims of traffic accidents, a house collapse and an explosion, and attended a number of fires both in Hong Kong and Kowloon. They were also em- ployed during the cholera outbreak on duties in the isolation centre and at inoculation stations.

417. Twenty-two Auxiliary Dressers from the Ambulance Teams are on duty every Sunday with the Fire Services, thereby gaining valuable practical experience in the use of equipment and in the routine work of the Fire Services ambulance section.

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418. The blood-grouping of new members of the Auxiliary Medical Service was continued, and the Service continued to be responsible for making arrangements for the grouping of all members of the Auxiliary Defence Units.

419. On 17th March, 1964, a number of members of the Auxiliary Medical Service were presented with the ribbon of the Civil Defence Long Service Medal by His Excellency the Governor. Among those receiving the ribbon was the Unit Controller, Dr. P. H. TENG, O.B.E.

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V. DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

PLANNING UNIT

The functions of this unit, staffed by a Principal Medical and Health Officer and a Senior Hospital Secretary, are:

(a) to prepare outline plans for the development of medical and health facilities in Hong Kong, in consultation with other branches of the medical services concerned;

(b) to undertake, in close liaison with the Public Works Department, the detailed planning of projects approved by the Finance Com- mittee of the Legislative Council; and

(c) to give advice and assistance to voluntary organizations and other philanthropic bodies which are co-operating with the Government in the provision of medical facilities.

421. The Planning Unit has also been responsible for the implementa- tion of the plan for development of hospital and clinic services covering the period 1960-65 which was approved in principle by the Executive Council in June, 1960. Draft schedules of accommodation, staff and equipment for approved projects have been prepared and examined in consultation with the Colonial Secretariat, after which they were sub- mitted at the appropriate time to the Public Works and Staff Increases Sub-Committees and to the Establishment Committee. Standard schedules are available for various types of out-patient clinics, maternal and child health centres and maternity homes; these standards have been accepted by Government and simplify greatly the preparatory work required for the lesser projects undertaken by the Planning Unit.

422. Once approval of a new project has been given, sketch plans are checked, and, providing that no amendments are considered neces- sary, authority is sought for working drawings to commence; the project

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