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meat and bone meal for animal feed and inedible grease for industrial use, but the bulk of the unsafe raw materials had to be disposed of either by rendering down to harmless wastes for dumping, or by costly and time-consuming incineration.
Hawkers and Markets. Progress was made on reconstructing markets to meet the growing demands caused by an increasing population. Toward the end of the year the new Tang Lung Chau market was completed and sketch plans for the new North Point market drawn up. It was decided in planning new markets to include a working passage behind stalls and to provide space inside the building for hawkers.
There was an appreciable increase in the number of pedlar hawkers, and Kaifong associations assisted the gradual spread of control over hawkers by allowing their premises to be used for weekly talks. Proposals were made during the year for the erection of roofs over hawker bazaars in all existing and future resettlement estates. Without these roofs, hawkers tend to protect themselves and their goods from sun and rain by putting up ramshackle awnings and shades which gradually assume an unacceptable degree of permanency.
Hawker Control. The Hawker Control Force reached its full strength of 337 all ranks, comprising a commandant, one senior inspector, four police inspectors on secondment, four sub-inspec- tors, one senior sergeant, 20 sergeants and 306 constables. Control operations were extended to the Western District of Hong Kong and the Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok districts of Kowloon. As more transport, office accommodation and men become available, the aim of the Force is to move into other areas of Kowloon and Hong Kong, and though this extension will cover most of Hong Kong Island it will still leave much of the mainland untouched. The supervisory staff of the Force still consists, in the main, of seconded police officers, but during the year four sub-inspectors were recruited directly into the Hawker Control Force.
Public Latrines and Bathhouses. Two combined public latrines and bathhouses were built during the year in congested parts of Kowloon. In all there are 138 public latrines and 31 bathhouses in the urban areas. Hot and cold water is provided free of charge at the bathhouses, which were used by 740,217 people during the year, a daily average of 2,028.