85. The number of incoming vessels was 3,781 and the numbers of passengers and crew involved were 57,106 and 200,701 respectively. The corresponding figures for the previous year were 3,268 vessels, 44,710 passengers and 186,940
crew.
26. The number of persons entering the Colony by its laud frontier in 1953 was 301,670 as compared with 163,695 in the previous year. Of those who entered 43,212 were vaccinated against smallpox.
87. The inspection of unberthed deck passengers travelling as emigrants was carried out as in the past but there was a further decrease in the numbers dealt with. Emigrants during 1953 numbered 3,137 as compared with 5,276 in 1952 and 13,487 In 1961. Immigration restrictions imposed by other countries and the lessened demand for contracted labour are factors con- tributing to the decline in the emigrant traffic from Hong Kong.
88. At Kai Tak Airport passengers and crews of incoming aircraft were, medically inspected when necessary, and a further decrease in the number of passengers arriving by air was noted. Arrivals during 1953 numbered 15,372 as com- pared with 18,992 and 32,669 in the two previous years.
89. Epidemiological intelligence was received regularly throughout the year from the intelligence station operated by W.II.Ö. in Singapore. Useful though this service is it does not fully meet the Colony's needs in view of the fact that informa- tion regarding disease occurrence on the Chinese mainland is not available. This important deficiency imposes a great responsibility on the Port Health staff as disease importation from China has not been infrequent in the past and for this known source of infection to be a terra incoguita renders modern port health administration difficult indeed.
90. Port health staff during the year carried out an interesting mosquito larval survey in small craft in the waters of the Colony. Mosquito breeding was found in 2.32% of the
craft examined and the predominant species found breeding was the Aedes aegypti. This species was found breeding almost exclusively in fresh water receptacles in cargo junks employed as lighters. These junks nomally do not leave harbour limits.
91. Other species recorded were C. fatigans and Aedes albopictus which were generally found breeding in casual water and in the bilges.
92. Rapid reduction in the amount of mosquito breeding in junks was achieved by regular inspection and Gammexane spraying in bilges and casual waters and by the co-operation of junk masters în carrying out instructions given individually and also by means of a loud hailer system installed in the Port Health launches, by which advice was given in the prevention of the aedes breeding in drinking water receptacles. No mosquito breeding was found in junks during December 1953 and in the first quarter of 1954.
Social Hygiene
93. The Social Hygiene sub-department, which is concerned with the control and treatment of venereal diseases, is adminis- tered by the Senior Social Hygiene Officer who has a staff of 5 medical officers, 16 nurses, 5 dressers, a technical assistant, u dispenser, 3 auxiliary nurses, 8 clerical assistants and 4 sucial hygiene visitors.
94. No additional full time clinics were opened during the year and the service continued to operate in the 5 centres, 2 in Kowloon and 3 on Hong Kong Island. The small hospital with 28 beds for female cases, situated in the Wanchai district of Victoria, continued in operation but in view of the extensive repairs to the old building which were commended in January 1954 its work was, to some extent, restricted. The only special beds available for male cases continued to be the 6 which were
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