HEALTH
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During the year, site formation work for a hospital in Chai Wan began and work on the Queen Mary Hospital extension moved ahead steadily.
For the financial year 1984-5, the Medical and Health Department's estimated ex- penditure is $1,996 million. In addition, subventions totalling about $1,009 million are being made to many non-government medical institutions or organisations. The capital expenditure on hospitals and other buildings, including equipment and furniture, totals around $326 million.
Health of the Community
Hong Kong people continue to enjoy good general health, largely due to anti-epidemic and disease surveillance measures, developments in preventive and personal health services, and a high standard of living. This progress is further reflected in the highly satisfactory health indices and the general decline in the incidence of major communicable diseases.
The leading causes of death today are various forms of cancer, heart disease and cerebrovascular diseases. The low infant mortality rate is attributed to the provision of comprehensive family health care facilities as well as to improvements in environmental and socio-economic conditions.
One local case of cholera was reported. The common communicable childhood diseases, such as diphtheria and poliomyelitis, have been brought under control.
Two imported cases of rabies in humans were reported during the year, and both patients died of the disease. The first victim was a child who was bitten by a rabid animal in Shenzhen and was brought back to Hong Kong for treatment. The second victim was a pregnant woman living on a fishing boat adjacent to Lau Fau Shan. Seven cases of animal rabies were reported, and human contacts were given the necessary prophylactic treatment at medical centres.
In view of the resurgence of indigenous malaria in Hong Kong in 1983, the World Health Organisation (WHO) was asked to send experts to the territory to give advice and to review preventive and control measures. Government staff were also sent overseas under WHO sponsorship to acquire more knowledge of the latest malaria control methods used in neighbouring countries.
During the year, 101 imported, 10 indigenous and two relapsing cases of malaria were notified. The indigenous cases occurred in the border areas and in Sai Kung. Besides intensi- fying the surveillance and control measures taken against malaria and its vectors, emphasis was placed on educating the public, especially in the border areas and in Sai Kung, on how to prevent the disease. Health talks in schools, film shows, posters, press releases and radio messages were some of the means employed to urge people, especially picnickers, to protect themselves against mosquitoes and to eliminate mosquito breeding sites.
Tuberculosis cases notified during the year numbered 7 843 with 420 deaths, representing an incidence rate of 146.22 per 100 000. The low prevalence of the disease may be due to the decrease in the number of illegal immigrants and also to the continuing protective effect of the wide BCG vaccination coverage of school children.
Measles and rubella vaccination programmes were carried out in family health clinics and schools. Measles vaccinations were given to one-year-old babies and rubella vaccina- tions to girls in Primary 6 classes. Rubella vaccinations were also made available to women of child-bearing age. The response to these vaccination programmes was satisfactory.
Both viral hepatitis A and hepatitis B remain prevalent in the community with 1 780 notified cases and 12 deaths reported during the year. Because of the public health implications of this disease which usually leads to long-term liver complications such as