1967 — Page 46

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-No, I cannot give any particular reason for that. I should have thought that the number of children at risk was possibly even greater in resettlement estates than in the rest of the Colony. The population under five is about 14% of the total population, and perhaps in resettlement estates it is a little higher than that. So there was less of an epidemic in resettlement estates than there was outside.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Even though it was an epidemic the incidence in resettlement estates was less and I can only assume, Mr. Chairman, that this is possibly due to the good management of the Urban Council in our resettlement estates.

(3) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:—

Can the Deputy Director of Medical and Health Services advise:

(a) Whether it is the intention of the Government to stop the operation of mobile clinics in all resettlement estates by the end of this year?

(b) What steps are being taken by the Government to provide low-cost clinics in all resettlement estates for the benefit of the 800,000 residents living there?

THE DEPUTY Director of MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES replied as follows:

The answer to the first part of the question is “yes”—as regards the so-called mobile clinics in resettlement estates which are now registered with exemption (i.e. those employing unregistered doctors). This follows the recommendation made in the Report of the Advisory Committee on Clinics. In accepting this recommendation Government decided that, associated with the availability of alternative accommodation in estates, mobile clinics should not be registered with exemption after November 1967, except in special circumstances, and that accommodation for medical practitioners and/or unregistrable practitioners should be sought in resettlement estates. Regarding the second part of the question, a scheme has been formulated by the Medical and Health Department in conjunction with the Resettlement Department to set up clinics in all resettlement estates to assist in providing low-cost medical care to residents at an approximate ratio of 1 doctor to 6,000 people. The Resettlement Policy Select Committee has agreed to make available accommodation for clinics in resettlement estates—first for registered medical practitioners and, if vacancies remain, as is likely, then for unregistered practitioners already employed in clinics registered with exemption, priority being given to those now working in mobile clinics. This accommodation will mainly consist of ground floor shop premises. Allocations of premises will be made by the Resettlement Management Select Committee, and rents will be based on that charged for grade C shops.

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modation for clinics in resettlement estates—first for registered medical practitioners and, if vacancies remain, as is likely, then for unregistered practitioners already employed in clinics registered with exemption, priority being given to those now working in mobile clinics. This accommodation will mainly consist of ground floor shop premises. Allocations of premises will be made by the Resettlement Management Select Committee, and rents will be based on that charged for grade C shops.

At the present time over 50 registered doctors have expressed their willingness to join this scheme, and have formed their own management committee to co-ordinate their applications. These clinics will operate for at least 2 sessions a day for 2 hours each in the morning, and in the late afternoon or evening. The charge for an office consultation, including medicine, will be not more than $3.

I would mention that, apart from the mobile clinics and adjacent Government clinics, there are 23 clinics registered under the Medical Clinics Ordinance already operating in static premises in Resettlement estates, 8 of these are fully registered, and 15 are registered with exemption.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, is it the intention of the Authorities to withdraw all mobile clinics before the end of this year?

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES : ----Mr. Chairman, these mobile clinics will not be re-registered.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-But they will be permitted to continue operating in resettlement estates, will they?

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES: If they do, they will be operating illegally.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-In which event, Mr. Chairman, can the Deputy Director of Medical and Health Services give an assurance to this Council that adequate low cost clinics will be provided in every estate, sufficient for the needs of the 850,000 odd residents in these estates, bearing in mind that the standard laid down by the Department is one practitioner for 6,000 inhabitants, which means 145 medical practitioners in our estates?

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-143, Mr. Chairman.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Where do you get the half from?

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