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HEALTH

Welfare Department were also very active in their respective spheres. Kaifong associations co-operated with Government in immunization campaigns and in education on environmental hygiene. Many of these associations run their own health com- mittees and take a lively and practical interest in the health problems of their respective districts. The associations combined to organize a health education exhibition which was held for one week at the end of July in which major health problems were emphasized.

HOSPITALS

A total of 11,719 hospital beds (see Appendix VII) are available in Hong Kong for all purposes. This figure includes maternity and nursing homes but not institutions maintained by the Armed Forces: Of these beds, 5,077 are in Government hospitals and institutions and 4,709 in Government assisted hospitals, while the remaining 1,933 are provided by private agencies. Apart from beds assigned to the care of the mentally ill and the treatment of tuberculosis and infectious diseases, there are 8,708 beds available for all general purposes, including maternity. This gives a ratio of 2.45 beds per thousand of the population. The figures quoted are based on the normal bed-capacities of the various hospitals, but in many cases the actual occupancy is much higher as camp beds are used extensively whenever the need arises.

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital is the largest acute general hospital in the British Commonwealth, and provides a welcome addition to the Colony's strained hospital services. Built as a single block, it is in reality two separate 'ward stacks' joined on the lower floors by administrative and central service areas. It accom- modates 1,338 beds with all necessary ancillaries and, in addition, there is a large radiotherapeutic institute donated by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club. The sisters and nurses quarters and the nurses training school are adjacent to the Hospital and were opened in 1960. Additional details may be found in chapter 16. This hospital replaces the Kowloon Hospital as the acute emer- gency hospital for Kowloon and the New Territories and, in addition, will offer facilities for highly specialized investigation and treatment for that area; the phased programme to attain full functioning of the hospital was scheduled to be completed early in 1964.