HEALTH
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the latter continuing to be provided by Government to maintain the control of environmental conditions and infectious diseases. The school medical service will be staffed by private general practi- tioners, chosen by schools participating in the scheme from a panel of private practitioners who have offered their services. The service will provide medical examination and treatment at a per capita fee, shared equally by participants and Government.
Industrial Health. The work of the industrial health section of the Labour Department, which is staffed by members of the Medical and Health Department, is described in chapter 3.
Mental Health. The Castle Peak Hospital, which by internal re- arrangement has increased its beds from 1,000 to 1,119 is the main treatment centre for mental diseases. One ward of 120 beds has been set aside for the treatment of drug addicts who are pre- pared to enter hospital voluntarily for a period of up to six months. After medical and nursing care during the period of withdrawal from addicting drugs, there is a programme of rehabilitation at the newly opened colony at Shek Ku Chau which is run by the Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Addicts, and has facilities for over 500 addicts which are to be further expanded. The programme of rehabilitation is designed to restore confidence and re-establish the individual in the community. Discharged voluntary patients continue group psychotherapy through a club established with the help of staff at the psychiatric centre. Facilities for the treatment of out-patients are available at centres in Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories.
Health Education. Health education covers a wide field and is an integral part of the activities of all branches of the Medical and Health Department. The maternal and child health service is particularly active in this sphere. A special health education unit has been set up in the New Territories under the Principal Medical Officer of Health, New Territories, which in its various activities stresses rural sanitation and hygiene and protection against pre- ventable diseases. The inter-departmental committee on health education, formed in 1959, continued to assist in subjects of public health importance. The health education select committee of the Urban Council organized publicity campaigns on many aspects of environmental hygiene throughout the urban areas, while the in- dustrial health section of the Labour Department and the Social