ENG-1964 — Page 117

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HEALTH

and of a polyclinic at Shau Kei Wan which, apart from general out-patient and maternity and child health sections, also incor- porates a chest clinic and a dental section.

The Li Po-chun Health Centre, erected with the aid of a generous donation by the late Mr Li Po-chun, was opened in the Mong Kok area of Kowloon and a Maternity and Child Health Centre adjoining the Li Kee Memorial Dispensary for which funds were contributed jointly by Government and by the Lions Clubs of Hong Kong, was opened in a densely-populated area close to the old walled city of Kowloon.

During the year live births showed a decrease from the figure recorded in 1963. A total of 108,519 live births were registered as against 115,263 in 1963 and the live birth rate fell from 32.1 to 29.4 per 1,000 of population. The crude death rate dropped to 4.9 per 1,000 and there was a reproductive increase of 90,406 persons during the year. A table showing the principal statistics and rates over the ten-year period 1955 to 1964 is at Appendix XXVII.

The infant mortality rate dropped to 26.4 per 1,000 live births, the neonatal mortality rate was 16.6 per 1,000 live births and the still-birth rate was 13.5 per 1,000 total births. There were only 42 maternal deaths and the maternal mortality rate was 0.38 per 1,000 total births.

ADMINISTRATION

Statutory responsibility for administration of the services which safeguard public health in Hong Kong rests with the Director of Medical and Health Services, the Urban Council, the Director of Urban Services, the Commissioner of Labour and the District Commissioner, New Territories. The Medical and Health Depart- ment provides hospital and clinic facilities throughout both urban and rural areas, maintains maternal and child health, school health and port health services and is responsible for measures to control epidemic and endemic disease. In addition, doctors are seconded to the Urban Services Department, the Industrial Health Section of the Labour Department, the Criminal Investigation Branch of the Police Force and HM Prisons.

The estimated expenditure of the Medical and Health Department for the financial year 1964-5 was $93,400,300. To this should be added medical subventions, totalling $32,418,400, to the Tung