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(ii) The vaccination campaign mentioned in last year's report was carried on for the first six weeks of 1924 by the Sanitary Department assisted by the same voluntary organisations.
During the 15 weeks of the campaign 399,705 vaccinations were effected, an average of over 3,700 vaccinations a day (highest daily total 7,063). The campaign was the subject of a special letter of appreciation from the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
8. SCAVENGING.
Approximately 260 tons of refuse were received daily at the refuse depots from the City of Victoria, Hill District and Kowloon Peninsula. Slightly under 10 tons daily were collected from Shaukiwan and Quarry Bay and 23 tons from Kowloon City and dumped on waste ground. The cost of the service in Hongkong (including Shaukiwan and Quarry Bay) and Kowloon is shown in Appendix I attached. Table 3 shows a comparison with last year. The total cost has risen from $1.25 per ton to $1.30. The increase is due to normal expansions.
Outlying villages of Stanley and Taitam, and Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau were scavenged by contract at a yearly charge of $396 for the first two and $640 for the latter two. The contractor has the privilege of receiving nightsoil in each case in addition.
9. REFUSE REMOVAL.
The bulk of the refuse from the City of Victoria and Kowloon was barged away to sea as hitherto. Some 6,000 tons were dumped at Cheung Sha Wan where a reclamation is being gradually formed.
Appendix Table 2 shows cost of removal from Victoria, the Hill District and Kowloon peninsula. Comparative figures for the last two years will be found in Table 3. The cost works out at nearly 70 cents a ton, an increase of 5 cents on last year, due to the provision of two new shallow draft barges and one towing lighter.
Barges were delayed on five occasions for a short time only by typhoon signals.
S.D.1 broke down once at a cost of $122.00. Launches were hired during repairs.
A new towing lighter was taken over on 3rd January and two shallow barges on 30th September.
10. NIGHTSOIL REMOVAL.
The contractors for the removal of nightsoil from Victoria and the Kowloon Peninsula, Shaukiwan and Quarry Bay, Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau, Stanley and Taitam respectively carried out their work satisfactorily.