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HEALTH
from 60 in 1981 to 80 in 1983. Clinical training for its first batch of students is available at the Kowloon and United Christian Hospitals on a temporary basis until they transfer to the new Prince of Wales Hospital at Sha Tin in 1984.
An institute of Medical and Health Care at the Hong Kong Polytechnic provides training for para-medical and para-dental staff including radiographers, physiotherapists, occupa- tional therapists, medical laboratory technicians, dental technicians and extended duty dental surgery assistants. In-service and post-qualification training courses are also avail- able for para-medical and para-dental staff within the Civil Service.
Training for general registered nurses is available at government, government-assisted and private hospitals. In 1983, eight such training schools were in operation with an output of about 1 235 nurses a year. Three more nurse-training schools with over 350 places are planned for the coming decade. Over the same period, the training capacity for general enrolled nurses will increase from 550 to about 850.
Training schools for registered psychiatric nurses are at Kwai Chung Hospital and Castle Peak Hospital, with an annual capacity for 120 and 40 respectively. Two more psychiatric nurses training schools are planned with a capacity for about 65 students by 1987. Psychiatric enrolled nurses are trained at Castle Peak Hospital which has an output of about 60 nurses each year, to be further increased to 80 in 1986.
Government Laboratory
The Government Laboratory is an independent agency providing practical and advisory services to government departments and the private sector in the field of applied chemistry and related scientific disciplines. Its work covers a wide range of activities including many health-related services.
The examination of pharmaceutical products purchased or made by the government for use in its hospitals and clinics is carried out at the Government Laboratory. Products submitted for registration under the Pharmacy and Poisons Regulations are also closely examined together with samples of pharmaceutical products taken from retail outlets.
The laboratory has a statutory responsibility for the physical and chemical testing of foods. This work, which stems from the activities of the Hygiene Division of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department, was further developed to meet exacting international standards. One important task during the year was to determine hormone residues in poultry.
Urinalysis, in support of the methadone maintenance and detoxification programmes, is carried out by the Government Laboratory. During the year this work was extended to assist the Correctional Services Department. In addition it conducts testing and consulting work for government departments and the private sector, including dangerous goods and pesticide residues analyses, and determinations of traces of noxious metals in paints and other materials. The first table of results of the tar and nicotine contents of cigarettes on sale in Hong Kong was published towards the end of the year. Environ- mental science continued to feature among the laboratory's concerns and it provided laboratory support services on an increasing scale for the Environmental Protection Agency and other institutions.
Narcotics
Drug abuse is a long-standing problem in Hong Kong with serious social, economic, legal, medical and psychological implications. The government's expressed policy is to stop the illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs into Hong Kong, to develop a multi-modality treatment and rehabilitation programme for drug addicts and to dissuade residents, particularly