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Routine examinations are carried out by the Government Bacteriologist and Government Analyst and the results furnished to the Water Authority. There was no evidence of any disease having been conveyed through the public water supplies.
Clearance of Bush and Undergrowth.-Generally speaking, in Hong Kong and the New Territories, bush and undergrowth is little in evidence except in those places where it has been planted and conserved. Routine cutting of superfluous undergrowth is carried out in May and October.
In Hong Kong, as in many other parts of the world, there appears to be a general belief that the cutting of undergrowth and the clearance of bush in some way brings about a diminution in the number of mosquitoes especially the species which carry malaria. Whatever may be the effect on culicines it is a fact that the very potent malaria carriers-Anopheles maculatus and Anopheles minimus breed in water open to the light and shun that shaded by trees or undergrowth. Clearance of bush may, therefore, result in an increase of malaria rather than in a diminution.
Sanitary Inspections.-During the year the Sanitary Inspectors continued their routine visits of inspection. Under their supervision come the domestic houses, common lodging houses, places of common assembly, eating houses, bakeries, etc., etc. As mentioned previously there are approximately 30,000 people per Inspector-and it is physically impossible for any man to carry out the number of inspections necessary to secure a proper standard of sanitation under the conditions prevailing in this Colony.
# SCHOOL HYGIENE
The School Inspection Branch of the Medical Department consists of one Lady Medical Officer and one Nurse. These Officers work in close touch with the Education Department.
The following information is taken from the Annual Report of the School Medical Officer.
The average number of pupils daily attending Government School and Schools which receive Government Grants in Aid was 8834.