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patience and hopefulness combined with energy and tenacity. The present over-crowding resulting from the influx of large numbers of refugees seriously aggravates the situation and a major and essential step in the control of tuberculosis would be effected by the restoration of peaceful conditions in the Far East and the return of refugees to their homes in China.
69. The tragic need for sanatoria for "open" cases is more than ever a necessity in view of the overcrowded conditions already referred to.
70. Towards the end of the year steps were taken to introduce legislation to make spitting in public places an offence.
(d) Helminthic diseases.
71. Inspection of meat and foodstuffs, control of night-soil and refuse and a continued war against flies constitute the main prophylactic measures against helminthic diseases.
72. The war against flies was strengthened during 1939 by a ban on the use of raw manure in the urban areas. The use of manure rendered non-attractive to flies by processing is allowed.
(e) Seasonal prevalence of diseases.
73. The seasonal incidence of certain diseases is given in the histograms which show no change from previous years.
(a) Sewage disposal.
(II) General measures of sanitation.
74. There was no change during 1939 in the very unsatisfactory method of sewage disposal in Hong Kong, but it is hoped that a committee appointed by His Excellency the Governor to investigate the position will be able to put forward acceptable proposals and that these will be carried out. The seriousness of the situation and the urgent need for improvement cannot be over-emphasized in a port of the importance of Hong Kong where the major enteric diseases are prevalent.
75. The shortage of water makes it impossible at present to extend the water-carriage system generally throughout Victoria and Kowloon. Where such a system is employed untreated sewage is discharged direct into the harbour, a method which is open to grave objection on hygienic grounds.
76. Where the bucket system is used, and a survey reveals that there are 65,000 bucket latrines, the onus for delivering night-soil to the removal contractor rests on the house-holder who has to employ a sweeper privately for the purpose. The danger to the public health from a system so vulnerable to carelessness and abuse is obvious and a conservancy organization under the direct control of the Urban Council, or perhaps delegated to a contractor of repute, is an urgent necessity.
(b) Refuse disposal.
77. An average of 552 tons of refuse is collected daily on twenty-four lorries, each lorry averaging ten trips and twenty-three tons of load daily. The fleet of lorries requires to be increased by fifty per centum in order to deal with the work expeditiously and to prevent the accumulation of garbage in open baskets and in the streets which is at present inevitable. The addition of 200 coolies to the cleansing staff during 1939 was a welcome step which is reflected in the increased cleanliness of the town.
78. Refuse is at present used for reclamation purposes but the question of adopting the Indore process of treatment, at least for part of it, is being investigated. Although the refuse has but little value for reclamation, it may well prove entirely useful as a fertilizer.
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patience and hopefulness combined with energy and tenacity. The present over- crowding resulting from the influx of large numbers of refugees seriously aggravates the situation and a major and essential step in the control of tuberculosis would be effected by the restoration of peaceful conditions in the Far East and the return of refugees to their homes in China.
69. The tragic need for sanatoria for "open" cases is more than ever a necessity in view of the overcrowded conditions already referred to.
70. Towards the end of the year steps were taken to introduce legislation to make spitting in public places an offence.
(d) Helminthic diseases.
71. Inspection of meat and foodstuffs, control of night-soil and refuse and a continued war against flies constitute the main prophylactic measures against helminthic diseases.
72. The war against flies was strengthened during 1939 by a ban on the use of raw manure in the urban areas. The use of manure rendered non-attractive to flies by processing is allowed.
(e) Seasonal prevalence of diseases.
73. The seasonal incidence of certain diseases is given in the histograms which show no change from previous years.
(a) Sewage disposal.
(II) General measures of sanitation.
74. There was no change during 1939 in the very unsatisfactory method of sewage disposal in Hong Kong, but it is hoped that a committee appointed by His Excellency the Governor to investigate the position will be able to put forward acceptable proposals and that these will be carried out. The seriousness of the situation and the urgent need for improvement cannot be over-emphasized in a port of the importance of Hong Kong where the major enteric diseases are prevalent.
75. The shortage of water makes it impossible at present to extend the water- carriage system generally throughout Victoria and Kowloon. Where such a system is employed untreated sewage is discharged direct into the harbour, a method which is open to grave objection on hygienic grounds.
76. Where the bucket system is used, and a survey reveals that there are 65,000 bucket latrines, the onus for delivering night-soil to the removal contractor rests on the house-holder who has to employ a sweeper privately for the purpose. The danger to the public health from a system so vulnerable to carelessness and abuse is obvious and a conservancy organization under the direct control of the Urban Council, or perhaps delegated to a contractor of repute, is an urgent necessity.
(b) Refuse disposal.
77. An average of 552 tons of refuse is collected daily on twenty-four lorries, each lorry averaging ten trips and twenty-three tons of load daily. The fleet of lorries requires to be increased by fifty per centum in order to deal with the work expeditiously and to prevent the accumulation of garbage in open baskets and in the streets which is at present inevitable. The addition of 200 coolies to the cleansing staff during 1939 was a welcome step which is reflected in the increased cleanliness of the town.
78. Refuse is at present used for reclamation purposes but the question of adopting the Indore process of treatment, at least for part of it, is being investigated. Although the refuse has but little value for reclamation, it may well prove entirely useful as a fertilizer.
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