XN000022-1972-06-22 — Page 2

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Thursday, June 22, 1972

Dr. Choa repeated several warnings given earlier at the start of the

hot weather on the importance of personal hygiene as the most effective way of

preventing the outbreak or spread of infectious diseases such as dysentery and

cholera.

said.

"The thunderstorm has given these warnings additional urgency," he

Any

The Director advised residents to keep themselves and their surroundings

clean, and not to use food or water that had been exposed to contamination.

suspect water should be boiled before drinking.

He urged that hands be washed after visits to the toilet. Food should

not be exposed to flies, and food that had been so exposed, should not be eaten.

Dr. Choa said: "I must emphasise that these precautions have validity

at all times, but particularly now when Hong Kong, as a whole, is recovering

from one of the worst natural disasters in its history."

"This Department needs the co-operation of the public if it is to succeed

in its task of keeping Hong Kong healthy, and containing any infectious disease

should it break out."

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