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HEALTH
The Council derives its main powers from the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, 1960 and legislation is enforced through the Urban Services Department. The Director of Urban Services is directly responsible for similar public health measures in the New Territories with the exception of certain licensing powers retained by the District Commissioner. The department is organized into three main divisions, one dealing with cleansing, conservancy, cemeteries and crematoria, one with food and general hygiene, and the other with hawkers, markets, slaughterhouses and public amen- ities. The professional establishment of the department includes health officers seconded from the Medical and Health Department and 312 health inspectors.
The hygiene division is responsible for standards of environ- mental hygiene and also assists the Medical and Health Department in the control of infectious diseases.
Domestic hygiene is encouraged by a system of regular house inspection by the district health organization. During these inspec- tions, nuisances can be detected and action taken for their abate- ment. Another important aspect of work of the district health staff is the hygienic control of food premises. Restaurants, cooked food stalls, food factories and other places where food is handled are inspected weekly to make sure that they are kept clean and operated hygienically. The district health inspectors also investigate cases of infectious diseases, trace sources of infection and contacts, disinfect premises and advise on precautionary measures.
Eight food inspectors are employed on food sampling and other food hygiene duties in Hong Kong and Kowloon. Particular atten- tion is paid to food factories, especially frozen confection and milk factories, from which samples are taken regularly, and to the prevention of the sale of diseased meat. The inspectors are also responsible for inspecting imported vegetables and fruit, and meat and poultry covered by the Imported Meat and Poultry Regulations.
The Health Education Select Committee of the Urban Council organized publicity campaigns on many aspects of environmental hygiene throughout the urban areas. Kaifong associations co- operated in education on environmental hygiene as well as in immunization campaigns. Many of these associations run their own health committees and take a lively and practical interest