HEALTH
103
The composting plant installed at Lai Chi Kok converts 45 tons of refuse into compost weekly.
Efforts have been made for many years to secure public co- operation towards reducing the problem of litter through education and prosecution, and a major campaign using many new techniques is now being planned. 'Dogs' latrines' are set up at suitable sites in the urban area to minimise the extent of fouling of streets by dogs.
The free nightsoil collection service continued to diminish as pre-war property is replaced by modern buildings with waterborne sanitation, and the number of nightsoil pans serviced is now less than half what it used to be a decade ago. In urban areas, about 14,200 gallons of nightsoil were collected daily from 14,300 floors with dry latrines, and from 1,930 temporary latrine structures on building sites and squatter or licensed resettlement areas. Thirty-five specialised vehicles and three tanker-barges are employed on this service and, since a former maturation plant was closed down, all of the nightsoil collected has been disposed of by dumping into deep sea outside harbour limits where currents are favourable.
The hygiene staff, consisting mainly of the health inspectorate, is responsible for the maintenance of environmental sanitation and for the hygienic control of all types of food business and food and drink. Regular inspection of domestic premises is carried out by health inspectors, who are also responsible for investigating com- plaints of sanitary nuisances and for the prevention of fly and mos- quito breeding. Investigation into food poisoning cases and control of infectious diseases are carried out in close liaison with the Medical and Health Department. All applications for licences in the urban areas (other than hawker licences) under the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance and its subsidiary legislation are dealt with by a central licensing unit which ensures that only premises that comply with the statutory standard of hygiene are granted licences. During the year, 8,609 licensed premises (this figure includes the New Territories) were regularly inspected by the health staff.
The Food Inspection and Certification Unit continued to exercise inspection and control of imported foods and meat products. The inspection and certification of food for export, and the inspection of animal products and human hair for export under veterinary certification are also the responsibilities of this unit, which maintains close liaison with other government departments. Suitable amend- ments were made during the year to the Food Business By-laws to facilitate better control over cold-stores, where large quantities