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a larger output of finished materials. Altogether 3,508 in-patients were treated: there was a small number of selected out-patients under treatment at the Queen Mary Hospital.

446. At the Queen Mary Hospital the unit was closed for part of the year but some continuity in diversional therapy was maintained by the visits of two Handicraft Instructors. Towards the end of the year re-opening of the unit allowed of an expansion of the diversional therapy and specific treatments were introduced for orthopaedic and neurological cases; remedial treatments were given for leg and hand injuries, paraplegias and poliomyelitis. Portable weaving looms, which can be used in the wards, becane available. An interesting feature of the work is that the Rattan Splint Maker used the unit regularly for the making of rattan crutches, splints and other surgical appliances.

447. At the Mental Hospital, ward classes in raffia work, string plastic bag making, soft toys, woodwork, crochet, needlework, weaving, carpentry, painting and drawing were held by the Occupational Therapist and Handicraft Instructors. On the recreational side a group project resulted in the making of a collapsible stage which was used for Chinese operas given by local companies and for a concert. Games such as table tennis, badminton, mahjong and tin-kau were organized by the Occupational Therapy and Nursing staffs. The incentive payment scheme for work done was continued and provided funds for special dinner parties and concerts.

448. Art Therapy for diagnostic purposes was started for selected mental patients at the request of the medical staff.

449. At the Castle Peak Hospital therapy was maintained under the supervision of the Occupational Therapist and the General Handicraft Instructor who visited during alternate weeks. Here, simple crafts such as the making of raffia mats, string and plastic bags, hospital garments and Christmas decorations were in use as diversional therapy, as were embroidery and crochet work. Occasional painting and drawing sessions were introduced. A vegetable and flower garden was started under the supervision of the Nursing staff.

450. In December 1957 the Mental Hospital held an Exhibition and sale of work which was very successful and attracted considerable interest.

451. At Lai Chi Kok Hospital the work was limited in the earlier part of the year as only part-time therapy could be given in four sessions each week. In September the posting of a full-time therapist

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who was assisted by three Handicraft Instructors and a Clerk, enabled the classes in rattan and carpentry work to be re-started. Incentive payment, are made to the patients engaged in this work. The Welfare Handicraft Shop in Kowloon accepts finished articles for sale, as it does from the two other units, Occasional classes in English and typing were also given as pre-vocational training.

452. Government orders for wastepaper baskets, squeegees, brooms and crutches have been undertaken by the various units of the Service,

MEDICAL EXAMINATION BOARD

453. The function of the Board is to examine medically all candidates for Government employment, any Government officers due for promotion or transfer and all members of and recruits for the Auxiliary Defence Units, The Board consists of a Chairman and four other Government Medical Officers, one of whom is a woman. During the year 14.442 persons were examined. This represents an increase of 1,660 over 1956. The categories examined arc set out in Table 32.

TABLE 32

Government

Candidates

Auxiliary Defence Wanita

Miscellaneous

Total

New exabinations Re-exuminations

6.327

3,290

199

7,818

2,810

1,803

11

4.624

9,137

5,095

210

14.442

454. All candidates coming before the Board undergo a full medical examination and an X-ray of the chest which are carried out on the premises along with such routine laboratory investigations as are required. During the year 2,427 cases were referred for a specialist opinion. 1,857 of these were referred to the Senior Tuberculosis Specialist. Of persons examined for the first time by the Board 1,050 were rejected as unfit. As in previous years, the main cause of rejection was pulmonary tuberculosis, which accounted for 70% of the rejections. The other main causes of rejection were diseases of the circulatory and alimentary systems.

455. Of all candidates examined during the year 12-9% were referred for the opinion of the Tuberculosis Specialist and 6-9% of the total examined were finally rejected on account of pulmonary tuber- culosis. In 1956 this latter figure was 8%.

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