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HEALTH
The estimated expenditure of the Medical and Health Department for the financial year 1968-9 is $134,938,600. To this should be added substantial subventions to many medical institutions and organizations, including particularly the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, the Grantham Hospital, the Alice Ho Miu Ling Nether- sole Hospital, the Caritas Hospital and the Hong Kong Anti- Tuberculosis and Thoracic Diseases Association. These subventions total an estimated $54,608,800 for the year under review and the combined estimated expenditure of the Medical and Health Depart- ment and medical subventions represents 9.64 per cent of the Colony's estimated total expenditure. The estimated capital ex- penditure for the Medical and Health Department during 1968-9 in respect of hospital and other buildings, including furniture and equipment, is $13,095,989.
There are five statutory bodies which deal with the registration of medical practitioners, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, and mid- wives respectively. The Medical Council of Hong Kong is responsible for the registration of medical practitioners and has disciplinary responsibilities under the Medical Registration Ordinance; it is not an examining body. The Dental Council, Pharmacy Board, Nursing Board and Midwives Board all maintain registers, regulate training, hold examinations leading to registration and have dis- ciplinary powers.
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
Hong Kong has remained free from cholera since the single case reported in November 1966. However, in view of the continuing incidence of the disease in nearby areas, special preventive measures were continued and strict quarantine restrictions were maintained in respect of various neighbouring countries declared infected. Bacteriological investigation was carried out of all specimens sent to the government laboratories from cases of gastro-enteritis and there was daily sampling of nightsoil and routine sampling of seawater, well water and food-stuffs liable to be sources for trans- mission of the vibrio. All such samples proved to be negative for cholera organisms. A mass prophylactic immunization campaign against cholera started in April and by the end of the year a total of 1,385,272 inoculations had been given.