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HEALTH
Health Inspectorate, which consists of 378 officers, of whom 223 have passed the examination of the Royal Society for the Promo- tion of Health. In addition there is a disciplined Hawker Control Force, under a gazetted officer seconded from the Police, which has an approved complement of 320 including Inspectors, NCO's and Constables.
HYGIENE SECTION
District Health Work. For administrative purposes the urban districts are divided into four main health areas, two on the Island of Hong Kong and two in Kowloon. These areas are further sub- divided into health units, each responsible_for approximately 600 domestic floors in tenements and similar buildings. At the end of the year there were 114 of these units on the Island and 113 in Kowloon. Each health area is controlled by a Chief Health Inspector with three Senior Health Inspectors on his staff, each supervising the duties of seven or eight District Health Inspectors. With continual building development and a shortage of qualified staff, it has been necessary to keep the number of health units per District Health Inspector under constant review. The current ratio is one officer to four units. Four Health Officers, on secondment from the Medical and Health Department, act as professional advisers in the main health areas. Members of the new grade of Assistant Health Inspector while under training assist District Health Inspectors in house inspection.
Routine house inspection by blocks continued during the year. To improve conditions in slum areas and as a follow-up to the inspection of premises, tanks with kerosene emulsion were provided at convenient points for residents to cleanse their furniture and other household effects. Residents are given six days notice in writing that house inspection will take place and on the day of inspection the Health Inspector (responsible for a block of approxi- mately 30 floors) visits the premises and, assisted by three labourers, supervises the removal of refuse from ledges, shades, sign-boards and compounds. Any licensed premises in the block, particularly those dealing in food, are thoroughly cleansed. Sanitary nuisances are either abated by direct action or by serving statutory notices on the persons responsible. Special attention is paid to complaints received on the spot, and residents are given advice on health matters both verbally and through the medium of illustrated