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HEALTH
health problems, particularly in connexion with epidemic and com- municable disease, was reconstituted during the year. The Board formerly consisted of doctors only, but membership now includes laymen as well and its terms of reference have been broadened.
Vital Statistics. Reference has already been made in this Report to the census taken on the 7th March 1961. (See Chapter 1). Out of a total population of 3,133,131 only 5% are over sixty years of age while 40% are below the age of fifteen.
After reaching a peak in 1960 the total of live births showed a slight decline in 1961, although the live birth rate remained relatively constant at 34.2 per 1,000 of population. The crude death rate declined to 5.9 per 1,000 and there was a natural increase of 89,988 persons during the year. A table showing the principal statistics and rates over the ten year period 1952 to 1961 is at Appendix VII.
THE OUTBREAK OF CHOLERA
L
During the first week of August rumours of an outbreak of a cholera-like disease in the neighbouring Kwangtung Province of China began to circulate in Hong Kong. These rumours were to some extent substantiated by the presentation of anti-epidemic certificates of inoculation against the enteric diseases and cholera by travellers entering Hong Kong at Lo Wu. They were followed by press reports of cholera in Macau and precautionary measures were taken to deal with an outbreak in Hong Kong. These measures included full-scale production of cholera vaccine, designa- tion of inoculation centres, preparation of cholera treatment centres and immunization against cholera of the staff most at risk.
On the 14th August a case of cholera was confirmed in Macau and Hong Kong imposed quarantine restrictions against Macau and Kwangtung Province. At the same time plans were put into effect to open up inoculation centres, to put in readiness the cholera treatment centres, to chlorinate unprotected well water supplies in the urban areas, to intensify food inspections and to prepare a quarantine centre.
Two days later two cases of suspected cholera were reported in the Colony, one from an isolated village on the western seaboard and the other from the Kowloon Public Mortuary. These cases