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In the outlying districts the sanitary work is supervised by the Police Officer of the district, except in Shaukiwan which has been incorporated with No. 1 Health District although it lies beyond the limits of the city. The inspectors in Hongkong work under the supervision of the Medical Officer of Health and in Kowloon under that of the Assistant Medical Officer of Health.
GENERAL SANITARY CONDITIONS.
The activity in building operations which has been such a noticeable feature since 1912 has not abated and the demand for housing accommodation for the Chinese is still in excess of the supply.
The Colony has several times since 1911 been subjected to the influx of many thousands of Chinese seeking refuge from disturbances in their own country and of these not a few appear to remain after the majority have returned to China. It is estimated that at one time during the summer of 1916 there were at least 120,000 refugees in this colony: this must have increased the apparent death rate for the year.
In connection with anti-plague measures to keep rats as much as possible out of houses 124 ground surfaces have been cemented in Victoria and 46 in Kowloon (264 and 22 in 1915) whilst 261 buildings have had rat runs filled with cement in Victoria and 559 in Kowloon (565 and 799 respectively in 1915). During November, in consequence of a sudden increase in the number of plague-infected rats found, rat poison was distributed in the ground floors of all Chinese houses with satisfactory results.
Permits for the use of two basements for the preparation of food, two for workshops, and one for use as a dwelling were issued.
Obstructions have been removed from backyards in 38 houses in Victoria and 7 in Kowloon (115 and 5 in 1915).
7,110 notices were issued for the abatement of sanitary nuisances in Victoria (11,442 in 1915) and 1,559 in Kowloon (1,240 in 1915); while 2,120 and 475 represent the number of notices for the prevention of nuisances, in contravention of the Buildings Ordinance, in Victoria and Kowloon (1,891 and 279 respectively in 1915).
Notices prohibiting the breeding of mosquitoes were served to the number of 136 in Victoria and 11 in Kowloon (164 and 17 in 1915).
Other sanitary improvements have been carried out by the Public Works Department during the year including additional nullah training to the extent of 6,670 feet, (5,399 in 1915), and scavenging lanes have been provided to the extent of 2,200 feet.