ENG-1967 — Page 148

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HEALTH

the Polyclinic, provides day-treatment services and also special facilities for the observation of disturbed children. A psychiatric observation unit is operated in the Victoria Remand Prison and there is one ward for very low-grade, mentally subnormal children in the Tung Wah Hospital. Other cases of mental subnormality are in the care of the Social Welfare Department where they receive occupational training.

Drug addicts who volunteer for treatment and rehabilitation are treated in a drug-free environment at a rehabilitation centre on Shek Kwu Chau Island. Their stay varies from four to six months. This institution is run by the Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Addicts, a voluntary organization subsidized by the govern- ment, which is able to treat up to 250 addicts at a time. The society maintains an office in the urban area where addicts can apply voluntarily for admission to the centre. After a medical examination and socio-economic investigation, successful applicants are admitted for treatment and rehabilitation. Following their discharge, the society provides further assistance in their rehabilitation. A group of some 300 treated addicts are being followed up for as long as possible for research purposes.

HOSPITALS

The 14,255 hospital beds available in Hong Kong represent 3.7 beds per thousand of the population (see Appendix XXXII). This figure includes maternity and nursing homes, but not institutions maintained by the armed forces. Of these beds, 12,267 are in government hospitals and institutions and in government-assisted hospitals, while the remaining 1,988 are provided by private agencies. Apart from beds assigned to the mentally ill and the treatment of tuberculosis and infectious disease, there are 10,984 beds available for all general purposes, including maternity; this gives a ratio of 2.86 beds per thousand of the population. The figures quoted are based on the normal bed capacities of the hospitals, but in some cases the actual occupancy is much higher as camp beds are used extensively whenever the need arises.

Queen Elizabeth Hospital serves as the main emergency and specialist hospital for Kowloon and the New Territories and has 1,481 beds, with all necessary ancillary and specialist services. It