HC Deb 28 February 1977 vol 927 cc32-3W
Mr. Ron Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the achievements and completion of projects in 1976 in Hong Kong's 10-year medical development plan.

Mr. Luard

The major medical projects completed in 1976 were as follows:

  1. (a) the general wing of the Princess Margaret Hospital (1,340 beds) and the centenary building of the Tung Wah Hospital (424 beds) (a Government-subvented hospital) were commissioned and the casualty department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital was enlarged;
  2. (b) three specialist clinics/polyclinics were completed;
  3. (c) 15 additional dental chairs were provided;
  4. (d) a midwifery training school was opened; and
  5. (e) two full-time and 14 evening methadone detoxification centres for the treatment of drug addicts were established in various parts of Hong Kong.

As a result of the increase in the number of hospital beds, the ratio of beds per 1,000 head of the population increased from 4.22 in 1975 to 4.34 in 1976.