Route 22 - Pok Fu Lam Road (Béthanie Chapel)－Pok Fu Lam Road (Lady Ho Tung Hall)

Question 1

Route 22 - Points to Mention:

(Pok Fu Lam Road (Béthanie Chapel)－Pok Fu Lam Road (Lady Ho Tung Hall))

This section ends at Lady Ho Tung Hall

2 sites + 3 related topics - 7 minutes

Answer 1

1. Queen Mary Hospital (right)
2. Public health and medical services
3. Development of Chinese medicine and regulatory system of Chinese medicine practitioners in HK
4. Chinese Christian Cemetary (left)
5. Burial in Hong Kong

Question 2

Queen Mary Hospital

Answer 2

1. Overview:
* Queen Mary Hospital (QMH) is a major public teaching hospital in Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.
* It is also the largest district general hospital in Hong Kong.
* Established in 1937, it serves as a leading medical institution and a teaching hospital for the University of Hong Kong’s Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Dentistry.

2. Specialties:
* QMH is renowned for its expertise in organ transplants, neurosurgery, cardiology, and oncology.
* It is also a designated trauma center and one of Hong Kong’s key research hospitals.
* Since July 2003, QMH has been Hong Kong’s designated liver transplant centre, providing world-class liver transplant services.
* In July 2008, it also became the only centre for heart, heart-lung transplants, and paediatric cardiac surgery in Hong Kong.

3. Facilities:
* The hospital has over 1,700 beds, state-of-the-art medical equipment, and advanced operating theaters.
* The newly redeveloped blocks aim to enhance patient care and efficiency.

4. Historical Significance:
Named after Queen Mary, wife of King George V, the hospital was built to improve public healthcare and remains a critical facility for Hong Kong’s medical services.

5. Accessibility:
QMH is well-connected by public transport, with buses and minibuses linking it to key areas of Hong Kong Island.

This historic and modern medical institution continues to play a vital role in Hong Kong’s healthcare system.

Question 3

Public Health and Medical Services

Answer 3

Hong Kong’s public healthcare system ensures high-quality, affordable medical services for all residents regardless of their socioeconomic status, race or religion.

**1. Governing Body: **
The Food and Health Bureau formulates policies, allocates resources, and ensures lifelong healthcare services for all citizens.

2. Department of Health: * Implements healthcare policies and focuses on public health through disease prevention, medical services, and health promotion.
* It manages clinics and provides subsidized services such as child development assessments, elderly health, maternal and child care, and student health programs.

3. Hospital Authority:
Oversees 43 public hospitals, 49 specialist outpatient clinics, 74 general outpatient clinics, Chinese medicine services, and community outreach programs.

Question 4

Development of Chinese Medicine and Regulatory System of Chinese Medicin

Answer 4

1.Development of Chinese Medicine in Hong Kong:
* Chinese medicine is an integral part of the Chinese culture.
* Throughout history, Chinese medicine has made great contributions to Chinese culture and public health, playing an important role in disease prevention, treatment, and health maintenance.
* Subsequently it has a long history in Hong Kong and is quite popular.
* Since 1997, the government has actively promoted its integration with modern medicine, ensuring its standardization, professionalization, and regulation.
* The Hospital Authority now operates Chinese Medicine Clinics cum Training and Research Centres, providing subsidized services while supporting research and practitioner training.

2. Chinese Medicine Registration System:
The Chinese Medicine Ordinance (1999) established a regulatory framework to ensure the safety, quality, and efficacy of TCM in Hong Kong. The Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong (CMCHK) oversees the registration of:
a) Chinese medicine practitioners (CMPs) – classified as registered, listed, or student practitioners.
b) Chinese herbal medicines – categorized as proprietary Chinese medicines (pCm) and herbal medicines, requiring registration before sale.
Three local universities provide full-time degree courses on Chinese medicine.

3. Regulation & Standardization: Only registered Chinese medicine practitioners can provide professional services, and all proprietary Chinese medicines must meet safety, quality, and efficacy requirements before being sold in Hong Kong.

The government’s commitment to TCM development ensures its continued role alongside Western medicine, promoting a holistic and integrative healthcare system.

Question 5

Chinese Christian Cemetary

Answer 5

1. Established:
* 1882 by the Hong Kong Chinese Christian Churches Union.
* Built to cater to the burial needs of Chinese Christians in Hong Kong.

2. Structure:
* Built on terraced hillsides with interconnected staircases, offering a magnificent view.
* Reflecting Feng Shui principles, with terraced graves facing the sea for good fortune.
* The cemetery features a mix of permanent and temporary burial plots, with newer plots available for rent.
* Early burials were permanent; however, due to space constraints, the cemetery later adopted a rental system.

3. Burial Costs:
* For non-members, the cost of a 10-year rental plot is HKD 360,000, with a renewal fee of HKD 240,000.
* Members of the Chinese Christian Union receive a 50% discount.

4. Tourist Tip:
The cemetery offers a peaceful, scenic spot with views of the sea, ideal for visitors interested in local history and heritage.

Question 6

Burial in Hong Kong

Answer 6

1. Traditional Burial:
* Chinese customs favor permanent burial, but land scarcity has led to strict regulations.
* Government-run cemeteries offer limited spaces, with most burials requiring exhumation after six years.

2. Cremation:
* The most common practice due to limited burial space.
* Ashes are placed in columbaria (public or private) or scattered at designated sites, including the Gardens of Remembrance and at sea.

3. Anti-Cremation Arguments:
* Filial Piety & Ancestor Worship – Keeping the body intact honors parents and allows traditional grave rituals.
* Feng Shui & Afterlife Beliefs – Proper burial ensures good fortune for descendants and a peaceful journey for the soul.
* Cultural Stigma – Historically, cremation was linked to criminals or the poor, making it less desirable.
* Changing Attitudes – Due to land shortages, cremation is now more accepted, though some still prefer permanent resting places.

4. Private Cemeteries:
* Some religious or private cemeteries (e.g., Catholic, Christian, Muslim, and Buddhist) offer permanent plots, often at a high cost.
* Example: The Chinese Christian Cemetery in Pok Fu Lam charges HKD 360,000 for a 10-year rental plot.

5. Green Burials:
* Increasingly encouraged by the government.
* Includes scattering ashes in memorial gardens or at sea to promote environmental sustainability.

6. Cultural Festivals:
Families visit graves during Qingming Festival (Tomb-Sweeping Day) and Chung Yeung Festival to pay respects to ancestors.