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HEALTH
disease, tracing of the source of infection and of contacts, hospi- talization of patients, disinfection of infected premises and advice on precautionary measures.
Seven food inspectors carried out food sampling and other food hygiene duties in Hong Kong and Kowloon. Particular attention was paid to all food factories, especially ice cream and milk factories from which samples were taken regularly, and to the sale of diseased meat. Several large seizures were made during the year. Samples of imported fruit and vegetables from China, Taiwan and the Philippines were examined for cholera organisms. Samples of water from public swimming pools were taken monthly for bacteriological examination.
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All district health staff were called upon to assist in controlling an outbreak of cholera in late August. Raids were carried out day and night on sellers of prohibited and dangerous foods, anti- fly measures were intensified, and hygienic control of restaurants, food factories and cooked food stalls were tightened up. Sales of cut fruit and other prohibited foods decreased rapidly after public warnings were given.
The health education programme for the year again emphasized the need for improved health consciousness, and publicity was co- ordinated with a positive programme of health measures over a wide area, including the New Territories. The 'Miss Ping On' competition took place for the fourth time with the object of raising the standard of hygiene and cleanliness in the Colony's resettlement estates, which by the end of the year had a population of well over 400,000. More than 60,000 tenants participated and prizes awarded to winners amounted to over $5,000.
Slaughterhouses. Food animals slaughtered at the two Govern- ment slaughterhouses, one on Hong Kong Island and the other in Kowloon, totalled 101,553 cattle, 1,319,169 pigs, and 9,880 sheep/ goats. The bulk of the cattle came from Thailand and Cambodia, while China was again the major pig supplier. The sketch plans for the new abattoirs at Kennedy Town and Cheung Sha Wan were approved and working drawings were put in hand.
Facilities in the by-products plant, which hygienically deals with all diseased meat and unfit foodstuffs from the two slaughterhouses and other sources, were taxed to capacity throughout the year. A comparatively small amount was salvaged by manufacture into