HEALTH
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stipulated under the Quarantine and Prevention of Disease Ordinance and the Inter- national Health Regulations.
A 24-hour health clearance service is provided for all incoming vessels, including those ferrying refugees, and radio pratiques are granted to ships. The service provides vaccination facilities and issues international vaccination certificates. It also inspects and supervises the eradication of rats from ships on international voyages, and ensures adequate standards of hygiene and sanitation on board vessels or aircraft. It provides medical assistance to ships and planes within the territory, and transmits medical advice to vessels at sea.
The food catering service for international airlines is kept under close surveillance by the health staff to ensure that the food and water supplied to flight kitchens is clean and safe.
The service regularly exchanges epidemiological information with the World Health Organisation in Geneva and its Western Pacific Regional Office in Manila, as well as with neighbouring countries.
Review of Primary Health Care
In August 1989 the government set up a working party to conduct a comprehensive review of Hong Kong's primary health care services. The working party will review the provision of the general out-patient service, maternal and child health care including family plan- ning, the school medical service, health education and immunisation and other forms of prevention against disease. It will examine the respective roles of the government and the private sector in the provision of primary health care to the community and will suggest arrangements to strengthen the co-ordination between the out-patient clinics and the hospitals. The recommendations of the working party are expected to be available by the end of 1990.
Dental Services
The School Dental Care Service aims at promoting dental health among schoolchildren. Services provided include regular dental examination, treatment and oral health education. Since 1987, the programme has been extended to all primary school children. In 1989, 390 752 took part in the service, representing 73 per cent of the primary school population.
An Oral Health Education Unit has been established by the Department of Health to organise oral health education activities for the community.
The Government Dental Service provides dental care for all monthly-paid government servants, pensioners and their dependants, as well as simple dental treatment for inmates of penal institutions and specialist treatment for patients in government hospitals. Emergency treatment is also provided for the public at a number of district dental clinics.
Services for the Mentally Ill and Mentally Handicapped
Medical services for the mentally ill include treatment in hospitals, out-patient clinics and day hospitals. The Mental Health Service of the Hospital Services Department, in conjunc- tion with other local academic and voluntary bodies, provides a comprehensive psychiatric service for the territory as a whole.
Currently 3 527 beds are provided in psychiatric hospitals, and 608 beds in psychiatric units of general hospitals. In line with the universal trend for the latter type of provision, 2 115 additional beds are being planned for the mentally ill in various hospitals.
Psychiatric patients are treated, as far as possible, in the community. In 1988, domiciliary occupational therapy became an integral part of the mental health services.