78. In addition to district duties, other health inspectors are employed on conservancy, refuse collection and disposal, control of hawkers, markets and slaughter houses, meat and food inspection and sampling, and cemeteries.
79. Rodent Control is under a specially appointed officer.
80. As from April 1st, 1949, the administration of the Health Inspectorate of the urban area came directly under the Chairman, Urban Council, whilst the Inspectorate of the New Territories remained under the control of the Director of Medical Services.
(b) Santiation.
81. The sanitation of the urban area is under the control of the Urban Council with a Chief Health Inspector in charge.
82. There are two systems of nightsoil removal in opera- tion-by water carriage sewerage and by bucket conservancy. Bucket conservancy is forced on the Colony by factors such as old type of houses, water scarcity and flush restricted areas. Experiments conducted during the year showed that the maturing of nightsoil for four weeks did not destroy the ova of helminths but it probably did destroy bacteria of the enteric, dysenteric and cholera groups. Experiments on the production of compost are being undertaken with the object of eventually converting all available nightsoil and refuse in the Colony into compost.
(c) Squatters.
83. These increased considerably in numbers and at the end of the year were probably double that of the estimated 60,000 at the end of 1943. Legislation introduced in 1948 made some improvement possible in the central part of the town but this resulted in driving squatters to the periphery and made hygiene and anti-malaria measures very difficult. During the latter part of the year attempts were made to establish squatter colonies on a tolerated basis with a better type of but built to a pattern and with the introduction of lanes to obviate the fire risk. In October with the occupation of Canton by the Peking Government forces there started an influx of National- ist soldiers with their wives and families. The Tung Wah authorities cared for these people in some measure but the numbers were so great that they occupied the whole hospital grounds, the adjacent streets and the small building belonging to the hospital in the western area-the Yat Pit Ting, where again they overflowed into the streets. They presented a pitiful sight and a considerable problem in hygiene. Measures were
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adopted to prevent typhus by spraying with anti-louse powder and they were inoculated against typhoid and vaccinated against smallpox. A considerable number were repatriated but new arrivals prevented any appreciable improvement in the situa- tion.
(d) Water Supply.
84. The main water supply in the urban area is piped and of excellent quality. Many wells exist on the mainland and these provide a conținual source of anxiety but are mapped out so that chlorination may be done at once in the case of epidemic bowel disease becoming a threat.
85. In February, 1950 water restrictions were imposed as consumption had rapidly risen and the rainfall was below normal,
(e) Rural Health.
86. The title refers to Public Health in the New Terri- tories including the islanda of Lantao and Cheung Chau. A Medical Officer of Health was resident for some months of 1949, but on his departure on leave the Malariologiat took over his duties. There are 5 Health Inspectors with a Senior Health Inspector in charge.
87. New legislation was passed in September 1949, giving greater powers for control of health matters.
88. There are eight Government Dispensaries giving free medical treatment to the villagers at Tai Po, Fanling, Sha Tau Kok, Un Long, San Hui, Sai Kung, Ping Chau and Tai (. Most of these Dispensaries have also a few beds for raternity cases. Midwives attend maternity cases in the villages as well. The medical needs of smaller villages which can be reached by road are attended by two travelling dispensaries. A launch carrying medical supplies makes frequent trips to the islands.
89. Developments following the civil war in China caused much extra work for the health staff of the New Territories and resulted in the arrival of large numbers of refugees who filled every available hut and hovel in the towns and villages. Towards the latter part of the year, as the result of bombing, considerable numbers of people flocked across the border during the day time for safety and returned to their own villages at nightfall. In October the through train service to Canton ceased and traders on both sides of the border crossed on foot either over the railway bridge or the bridge on the main road, and markets for the exchange of goods by these small traders sprang up in the principal towns in the New Territories and