100. Continued efforts to turn the hospital into a modern therapeutic community have resulted in a judicious liberalization of control over patients. Except for 2 closed wards for patients involved in Court pro- ceedings, most of the wards are in various degrees 'open', having free access to their own gardens. Two wards are never locked, the patients housed therein are convalescent and are given intensive attention to prepare them for discharge. Some patients travel daily to Tsuen Wan to work in factories for a short period of rehabilitation prior to final discharge. Many patients are given permission to go freely within hospital.
101. Much reliance was put on psychotropic drugs, and it became increasingly clear that maintenance treatment of many schizophrenics over a long period of time could result in a drop in the relapse rate.
102. Increasing efforts were made to rehabilitate the long-stay and grossly mentally handicapped patients, the aim being to make them fit to earn their living. Two wards were specially set up for this purpose. The usual therapeutic measures including occupational therapy, group therapy and re-education were intensively used but emphasis was placed on training in activities having a direct bearing on their work after leaving hospital. By these means a number of patients have found employment while still in hospital. They were later discharged for full time employment.
Psychiatric Clinics (See table 54)
103. Work in the out-patient centres continued to increase. Towards the end of the year under review, the Tsim Sha Tsui Psychiatric Clinic was replaced by the new Yau Ma Tei Psychiatric Centre in the recently opened Yau Ma Tei Polyclinic, catering for both out- and day- patients including children. In addition to these clinics, psychiatric services are provided for Psychiatric Observation Unit in Victoria Remand Prison and for the mentally sub-normal in the Aberdeen Rehabilitation Centre.
New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association
104. This Association, run by several members of the Mental Health Service, centred its activities mainly on a Half-way House for men- a hostel where certain selected discharged patients from Castle Peak Hospital could spend a transitional period before return to normal society. A small fee was charged. Most of the ex-patients with the help of the Association were able to readjust themselves to return to a productive life.
Drug Addiction Treatment Centre
105. This centre, opened in March 1961 and situated in Castle Peak Hospital, continued to provide treatment on a voluntary basis for male drug addicts up to November 1965 when it was closed down, following the completion of direct admission facilities at Shek Kwu Chau; and all drug addiction patients, including Government officers, at Castle Peak, were transferred to Shek Kwu Chau for treatment. Shek Kwụ Chau is maintained by the Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Addicts.
106. No new features in therapy were recorded. Oral methadone continued to be administered during the acute phase of withdrawal, and proved just as effective as when given parenterally.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES HOSPITALS
107. There are two hospitals which admit patients suffering from infectious diseases-the Sai Ying Pun Hospital on Hong Kong Island and the Lai Chi Kok Hospital in Kowloon; the latter also provides some accommodation for convalescent cases from the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth Hospitals.
108. The general pattern of admissions followed that experienced in previous years with certain fluctuations. There was a reduction in the number of admissions of diphtheria and poliomyelitis. There was an increase in the number of cases of dysentery, gastro-enteritis and infec- tive hepatitis.
109. Typhoid admissions remained comparable with the previous year. The disease occurs mainly amongst children and adolescents and is very often of a mild character. Some increase was noted in the number of measles admissions. Bronchopneumonia complicating measles is the main cause of death and many cases were severely ill at time of admission.
OTHER GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS
110. Other hospitals maintained by Government are the St. John Hospital, serving the island of Cheung Chau and neighbouring islands of the western sea-board; the Wan Chai Hospital for the care of female patients with skin diseases; the South Lantau Hospital serving the villages on the south-west coast of Lantau Island; and four hospitals within prison compounds at Stanley Prison, Victoria Prison, Lai Chi Kok Female Prison and at the Tai Lam Prison for convicted drug addicts.
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