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VI DEVELOPMENT

(See table 70)

FORWARD PLANNING

168. Reference has been made previously in this report to the unparalleled hospital development of the past 15 years. However, the population has also been increasing very rapidly and there is con- siderable pressure on most categories of hospital beds, particularly those for acute and chronic general and mental patients. The White Paper on Development of Medical Services in Hong Kong which was tabled in Legislative Council in February, 1964, outlined the medical problems of the Colony and made suggestions to remedy deficiencies in order to produce, int the face of a rapidly increasing population, a reasonably satisfactory standard of medical facilities. Developments have to take into account the ability of the community to afford these facilities either by direct payment or by indirect payment by means of taxation. The Working Party which prepared the White Paper was re-constituted by His Excellency the Governor as the Medical Devel- opment Plan Standing Committee. The Director of Medical & Health Services is its Chairman and the Committee comprises two nominated members and representatives of the Medical & Health Department, the Finance and Social Services Branches of the Colonial Secretarial, and, when necessary, the Public Works Department. The Committee has held 38 meetings since its inception, in order to keep the recom- mendations made in the White Paper under continuous administrative review and to report its conclusion on all major matters to Government. The Committee's activities fall into five main categories: namely, development of medical institutions; staffing of such institutions; sub- ventions to Government-assisted institutions; fees and charges; and improved utilization of existing medical facilities.

169. The principal matters with which the Committee continued to occupy themselves were: the alterations to and extensions of Queen Marry Hospital, the first four phases of which have been completed. the fifth being underway at the end of the year and being expected to be completed in July, 1969, so as to provide a total of 1,086 beds; the progress made with the provision of a new 1,360-bed general hospital at Lai Chi Kok; the planning of a new convalescent block in the grounds of Kowloon Hospital; the adequacy of the present psychiatric services, planning for a new mental hospital of approxi- mately 1,000 beds being underway: and the subventions paid to Government-assisted institutions.

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170. Amongst new matters considered by the Committee were: alterations and renovations to Mount Kellet Hospital in order to provide infectious diseases and convalescent facilities, additions and improvements to Castle Peak Hospital; a new specialist clinic for Hong Kong Island East; a Standard Clinic and Maternity Home for Tze Wan Shan; additions to and improvements to the Pharmaceu- tical Manufactory at the Central Medical Stores, Government Supplies Department Compound. North Point; and a 350-bed acute general hospital to be provided at Kwun Tong by the Hong Kong Christian Council.

COMPLETED PROJECTS

171. The year 1968-69 saw the completion of a number of major additions to the Colony's medical and health services. Although most of these have been mentioned clsewhere in this report, it is appropriate to summarize them in this chapter.

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172. Government projects completed during the year were extension of the tuberculosis laboratory in the Medical & Health Department Institute of Pathology at Sai Ying Pun and a new clinic and maternity home at Chai Wan. Major projects completed at Govern- ment-assisted medical institutions were a new wing of Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital at Wong Tai Sin, an extension to the Haven of Hope Tuberculosis Sanatorium at Junk Bay. Phases 11 and III of the Wong Tai Sin Infirmary of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, and a small experimental treatment and rehabilitation centre for female drug addicts operated by the Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Addicts.

PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

173. Major projects on which construction had commenced were the new Lai Chi Kok Hospital, the Tang Shiu Kin Hospital, a new convalescent block at Kowloon Hospital, a major programme of alteration to Queen Mary Hospital, the redevelopment of medical institutions at Sai Ying Pun, the Siu Lam Hospital for the Mentally Subnormal, the Buddhist Hospital at Lo Fu Ngam at north-east Kowloon and extensions to the Shek Kwu Chau Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre for drug addicts.

174. A detailed statement of development will be found in the Statistical Appendix to this report.

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