147. In the Hong Kong Psychiatric Centre a carefully planned pro- gramme of rehabilitation was carried out for patients attending the centre. The occupational therapy sub-department at Yau Ma Tei Psychiatric Centre continued its work for two main categories of patients, namely, those discharged from Castle Peak Hospital who need a short follow-up in a Day Psychiatric Centre to aid their rehabilitation, and those requiring close observation and assessment as out-patients. Patients in the latter group are generally children and young adolescents in the early stages of illness whose pattern of behaviour needs close observation.
148. Work in the Kowloon Jockey Club Rehabilitation Centre followed the same pattern as in previous years, the aim of treatment being to assist patients to return to their previous employment or, where that is not possible, to an alternative means of livelihood. The ward work in the Kowloon Hospital progressed satisfactorily through- out the year.
149. The Occupational Therapy Units al Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary Hospitals continued their activities, and treatment was given to patients from orthopaedic, tuberculosis, neurosurgical, surgical and medical units, and from cerebral palsy clinics.
150. The Wan Chai Polyclinic unit is functioning to its maximum with the accommodation and staff resources available, and is concentrat- ing efforts on the treatment needs of upper limb disabilities, hemiplegics and cerebral palsy children.
ORTHOPAEDIC AND PROSTHETIC APPLIANCES
151. The department continued to give satisfactory service to the in-patients and out-patients of all government hospitals and clinics and some other, outside institutions, subsidized by the Government, and also the British Military Hospital. During the year 2,456 appliances and prostheses were made and 1,965 patients were treated in the depart- ment. The number of new poliomyelitis cases is decreasing, but the demand for artificial limbs is increasing steadily due to the increase in patients suffering from industrial and traffic accidents.
152. One student technician completed his four-year training during the year and has been accepted by the British Institute of Surgical Technicians as an Associate of the Institute. Four other student technicians are now under training in the department. To meet local
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requirement the research and development programme continued during the year to improve both the quality and quantity of the products, especially on nylon coating, above-knee cast-taking technique, plasta- zote, plastic and foam materials.
MEDICAL EXAMINATION BOARD
(Tables 63-64)
153. This section performs medical examinations of new entrants to Government employment and to the Essential Services Corps. The number of persons classified as unfit on account of tuberculosis de- crcased considerably when compared with the previous year. Tuber- culosis remained the primary reason for non-acceptance of applicants on medical grounds, being responsible for 7 out of the 11 classifications as 'unfit' in each thousand examinations.
HOSPITAL MAINTENANCE AND SUPPLY
Continued development of the services provided in medical institutions, coupled with a further increased demand upon them, again caused the lay administration and supply of the hospital service to become an increasingly complex task. Inability to recruit appropriately experienced hospital secretaries continued to be an impediment in adequate staffing.
155. The Central Laundry organization was again kept under con- tinuous review throughout the year, with particular reference to the future requirements of this service and its relationship with other essential service departments. Further investigation into the potential use of disposable items was undertaken with a view to reducing the work of the already overloaded Laundry Service, but the conclusions reached in previous, preliminary enquiries were confirmed, that dispos able products in this field are not yet an economic proposition in Hong Kong. These findings lent impetus to the need for detailed planning of additional laundry facilities.
156. Efforts to promote harmonious staff relations took a step forward in the year under review with the inauguration of a Joint Consultative Committee at Kowloon Hospital. Proposals for the re- organization of the Medical and Health Department Staff Welfare Association were actively considered, and officers of the association sought approval of the Registrar of Societies for a change of name and
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