HEALTH
not complied with the specified requirements. Since 1987, the prosecution of offenders has increased in frequency from monthly to weekly. This has had the effect of dramatically reducing the number of unlicensed food businesses to 75 in December 1991, compared with some 600 five years ago.
For the prevention of vector-borne diseases, pest control staff of the Urban Services Department and Regional Services Department continued with integrated programmes to control rodents, mosquitoes, flies and other public health pests. Measures taken included environmental improvement, eradication of breeding places, health education and law enforcement. Special surveillance was maintained to prevent outbreaks of malaria in Vietnamese migrants detention centres. Technical support is provided by the Pest Control Advisory Section of the Department of Health.
Environmental Health Education
An important role of the Health Education Unit of the Department of Health is to promote environmental health and food hygiene through education on a territory-wide basis. Under the auspices of the two Municipal Councils, the unit launched a number of educational campaigns in 1991, of which the most notable was the 1991 Food Hygiene Campaign. This campaign, which aimed at promoting the adoption of proper hygienic practices in order to minimise the chance of food poisoning and other intestinal diseases, was highlighted by a series of food hygiene seminars on the subject Food Safety is in Your Hands, organised for members of the food trade and school-teachers.
To arouse schoolchildren's interest in public health, the unit also organised activities for schools jointly with the Education Department. These included the 1991 Inter-Secondary School Health Education Project Exhibition Competition and the 1991 Inter-Primary School Health Education Painting Competition.
In addition, publicity campaigns directed at the prevention of rodent infestation and nuisances caused by mosquitoes and dripping air-conditioners were staged during the year. Apart from talks, broadcasting and hotline services provided by the unit, health messages were disseminated through the mass media. Public health materials including posters and leaflets were also distributed to the general public at the unit's resource centre.
Food
I
The health inspectorate, backed by hygiene consultancy, controls food for sale, both imported and locally produced. Supported by laboratory resources and assisted by a scientific advisory arm, the inspectorate ensures that the consumer is able to buy good wholesome food, unadulterated, uncontaminated, properly described and of nutritious quality.
Food samples are taken regularly for chemical analyses, bacteriological examinations and toxicity tests to ascertain their fitness for human consumption. For the purpose of sampling for laboratory testing, food items are prioritised according to the nature of the food and the risks that they may pose to the consumer. Complementary to regular laboratory analyses, field tests for pesticide residues are performed on imported vegetables at the points of entry into Hong Kong, including Lo Wu, Man Kam To and the airport. Owing to the fast development of transportation across the border, planning is underway to introduce another border checkpoint at Lok Ma Chau.
161