HEALTH
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infestations and complaints about unhygienic conditions. Advice is given when improve- ments are needed. Summary action is taken and arrests are made in cases where public health laws have been contravened.
During the year, the Food Section continued to monitor the hygienic standard of food produced and sold through regular inspections of food establishments and the systematic sampling of their products for chemical and microbiological analysis. In collaboration with the Government Laboratory, the section conducted surveys on the metal content of food and crockery.
In 1979, the Health Education Section produced features on health topics which were publicised through the mass media. In addition, lectures were given to schoolchildren, members of the catering trade and voluntary welfare agencies.
The Central Licensing Unit was responsible for dealing with applications for licences other than hawker licences – issued under the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, the Places of Public Entertainment Ordinance and the Dutiable Commodities (Liquor) Regulations.
District and regional pest control units carried out measures to prevent and control rodents, mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches, fleas and other pests. The Pest Control Advisory Unit provided technical advice to government departments and the public.
During the year, 11 health inspectors were sent abroad to undergo more specialised training in health education, noise control, administration, food technology, and cemetery and crematorium management.
Markets
In the urban areas of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, the Urban Council runs 46 public markets containing more than 3,200 stalls. The main commodities sold are fresh foodstuffs such as meat, fish, poultry, vegetables and fruit.
It is the council's policy to reprovision old market buildings in these areas and, where possible, to build new market buildings with improved modern facilities. Because suitable sites for new markets are limited, it has been decided that multi-purpose buildings should be built to accommodate cultural, recreational and other municipal services in addition to market facilities. This is enabling the maximum use of land available while, at the same time, providing a variety of services at one location.
An ambitious market development programme continued during 1979, with five new market buildings either completed or in the process of construction. A further 27 new market buildings are included in the programme for the next five years.
In the New Territories there are 25 public markets with about 2,000 stalls.
Hawkers
The number of hawkers is estimated to be about 42,440 in the urban areas of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. It seems unlikely that this number will diminish significantly until more markets are provided and hawkers can become market stall-holders. In the meantime, the Urban Council intends to confine hawking to specified areas for environmental reasons. Illegal hawking continues to be a problem in densely-populated areas where a heavy demand for market services exists but no provision has been made.
The Hawker Control Force was disbanded in April, 1979, and in its place 12 General Duties Teams were formed to control hawkers in the urban areas.
The Urban Council's policy is that hawking should be regarded as a business and that welfare considerations should not influence the granting of hawker licences. Needy