ENG-1961 — Page 185

150

HEALTH

beds, Government has assumed responsibility for 444 of the hospital's 540 beds, to which patients are admitted for treatment through the Government Tuberculosis Service. The Anti-Tuber- culosis Association, the Ruttonjee Sanatorium and the Freni Memorial Convalescent Home receive substantial annual sub-

ventions.

A number of general hospitals, varying in size from 50 to 280 beds, are maintained by missionary and other charitable organiza- tions. In addition, the Hei Ling Chau Leprosarium maintained by the Mission to Lepers (Hong Kong Auxiliary) provides accom- modation for 540 leprosy patients; the Haven of Hope Sanatorium is maintained by the Junk Bay Medical Relief Council and has accommodation for 210 tuberculosis patients. Several of these institutions receive substantial financial assistance from Govern- ment while others are supported in varying degrees by fees, voluntary donations and grants from mission funds. In a number of instances where a proportion of low cost or free beds are maintained and any excess of income over expenditure is put towards hospital development, land is granted without premium and the rates are refunded through a Government subvention.

OUT-PATIENT SERVICES

The growth of population and the increasing demand for treat- ment by Western medicine has called for a rapid expansion of out-patient facilities, both by Government and by other agencies. Attendances at Government, out-patient centres alone have in- creased by 83% during the last five years.

Government maintains 47 out-patient clinics and dispensaries of varying size and scope, two of which were opened during 1961; one was the gift of the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club and the other was built by Government.

In addition, out-patient specialist sessions are held at a number of centres in the urban areas, while in the New Territories the larger clinics are visited by specialist teams from Hong Kong and Kowloon. The remote areas of the New Territories are served by two mobile dispensaries and two 'floating clinics'; the latter are launches, donated by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, which visit isolated centres on the eastern and western coasts. To meet