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transfer to other duties. By the end of the year the staff situation had improved and more frequent inspections had become possible.

TABLE 33

LICENCES AND PERMITS ISSUED TO PREMISES INSPECTED

1956

1957

Wholesale Poisons' Licences

321

335

Listed Sellers* Licences ...

343

242

Licences issued for Authorized Premises

24

26

Anti-bintic Permils (General)

171

203

23

12

1.024

$13

Anti-biotic Permits (Restricted) Premises inspected

Hospital Administration and Supply.

466. The Chief Hospital Secretary and his staff of qualified Hospital Secretaries and Executive Officers Class II are responsible for the routine administration of the Hospitals and Clinics. The responsibilities include the recruitment and discipline of the male menial staff, staff welfare, departmental transport, the supply and maintenance of medical and surgical equipment and furniture; Hospital stores and stores accounting; fire precautions: the maintenance of fabric and buildings, libraries and stationery stores. The Chief Hospital Secretary also has important planning dutics; he is also the Honorary Area Representative for U.N.L.C.E.F. in connexion with the Milk Feeding Programme and the Maternal and Child Health Project.

467. There are two Group Hospital Secretaries, one in Hong Kong at the Queen Mary Hospital and one at the Kowloon Hospital. In the Hong Kong Group of Hospitals and Clinics there are Assistant Hospital Secretaries, who are Executive Officers Grade II, at the Queen Mary Hospital, at the Mental Hospital and at the Sai Ying Pun Clinic and Infectious Diseases Hospital. In Kowloon there are two Assistant Hospital Secretaries, one at the Kowloon Hospital and one at the Lai Chi Kok Hospital. The Kowloon Group includes the New Territories' institutions, with the exception of the uncompleted Castle Peak Mental Hospital which, for administrative purposes, is treated as part of the old Mental Hospital in Victoria.

468. Work has continued on the development of local sources of supply of hospital furniture. In addition modifications to equipment provided from overseas have been recommended to the manufacturers with a view to minimizing breakages in transit and improving per- formance under the climatic conditions of Hong Kong. In several

B

instances this has resulted in the production of a much more durable and satisfactory article.

469. The maintenance of furniture and equipment by hospital artişan staff has also developed and a great deal of time and money has been saved in this way.

Planning

470. The scheduling of equipment, the examination of plans and advice on design have been carried on in connexion with twenty one new projects. These projects vary from the design and equipment of clinics to the detail of the internal arrangement and ward equipment of the proposed new Kowloon Hospital of 1,300 beds.

471. An important and continuing aspect of this work is the altera- tions and improvements necessary in existing hospitals and clinics where the demand for services has outgrown the potential of the original design.

UNICEF Projects

472. In connexion with the Milk Feeding Programme and the Malemal and Child Health Project 155,034 lbs, of dried skim milk powder and 540,000 capsules of fish liver oil were received and distributed. Four additional Milk Feeding Centres were opened during the year: altogether 1,168,110 supplementury diets were given to mothers and children in need,

Staff Welfare

473. There are a number of staff associations and clubs within the Department. The Queen Mary Hospital Chinese Staff Welfare Club is the largest organization with a membership of some 1,500 members. The Club supports a benevolent fund from which benefits are paid to members or their dependants who are in need. There are also retire- ment and death benefit payments. An Evening School, which is registered with and inspected by the Education Department, is also maintained.

474. Amateur dramatics, football, table tennis, concerts, film shows and the maintenance of libraries are amongst the recreational facilities provided for their members by the Associations and clubs.

Auxiliary Medical Service

475. The role of the Auxiliary Medical Service, established under the provisions of the Essential Services Corps Ordinance is to supple-

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