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HEALTH
Hospital. These hospitals, which receive a large Government sub- vention, make a valuable contribution to the Colony's medical facilities and are gradually being modernized. A new infirmary now under construction at Wong Tai Sin should be completed in 1964. Work is also in progress on the final stages of the new Kwong Wah Hospital in Kowloon. This modern general hospital, which replaces an old institution on the same site, will contain 1,270 beds. In addition to its medical work, the Tung Wah board of directors is also responsible for extensive educational and relief work for the poor and needy of Hong Kong.
Near Yuen Long in the New Territories a long-established Chinese charitable organization operates the Pok Oi Hospital of 118 beds with the assistance of a Government subvention. Hospitals maintained by the Hong Kong Anti-Tuberculosis Association are the Ruttonjee Sanatorium, the Freni Memorial Convalescent Home and the Grantham Hospital. The latter is a non-profit-making in- stitution which provides accommodation for fee-paying patients.
A number of general hospitals, varying in size from 70 to 300 beds, are maintained by missionary and other charitable organiza- tions, including five run by the Catholic church and two by the Protestant churches. The Hei Ling Chau Leprosarium maintained by the Mission to Lepers (Hong Kong Auxiliary) provides accommo- dation for 540 leprosy patients. The Haven of Hope Sanatorium is maintained by the Junk Bay Medical Relief Council and has accom- modation for 230 tuberculosis patients. Several of these institutions receive substantial financial assistance from Government 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 is maintained, and where any excess of income over expenditure is put toward hospital develop- ment, land is granted without premium and the rates are refunded through a Government subvention.
OUT-PATIENT CLINICS AND 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 private agencies. Attendances at Government out-patient centres alone have in- creased by 47.9 per cent during the last five years. Government
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