ENG-1965 — Page 145

HEALTH

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hospitals, which receive a large government subvention, provide a valuable contribution to the Colony's medical facilities and are gradually being modernized and expanded. The main item in the programme of modernization has been the re-development of the Kwong Wah Hospital in Kowloon into a modern general hospital' of some 1,500 beds. This re-development was completed during the year and the hospital was opened by the Governor on 23rd March.

To meet the growing need for subsidiary beds for long-term patients the Tung Wah has undertaken two major projects. The first is the construction of a large infirmary at Wong Tai Sin and phase I of this project-built with the aid of a donation of $1,536,000 from the Australian World Refugee Year Fund and a government grant-provides 350 infirmary beds and was completed in September. Construction started during the year on phase II of this project and also on a second project which will contain 275 beds and which is designed, in part, to replace some existing but dilapidated accommodation at Sandy Bay.

Another long-established Chinese charitable organization operates, with the assistance of a government subvention, the 118-bed Pok Oi Hospital near Yuen Long in the New Territories. A new outpatient department, replacing an old and unsatisfactory building, was opened in January and foundation work was completed for a new wing. This is designed ultimately for a seven-storey building but planned initially for three storeys which will provide improved and expanded facilities, especially for maternity and paediatric patients.

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There are also the hospitals operated by the Hong Kong Anti- Tuberculosis Association and a number of general hospitals main- tained by missionary and other charitable organizations. Among those maintained by missionary organizations are the Caritas Medical Centre of 490 beds in the densely populated So Uk district, the Hei Ling Chau Leprosarium which provides medical care and rehabilitation for 540 patients, and the Haven of Hope Sanatorium which accommodates 240 patients and where a technical services block and rehabilitation centre were completed during the year. Several of these institutions receive substantial financial assistance from the government while others are supported in varying degrees by fees, voluntary donations and grants from missionary funds.