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even according to standards imposed by local resources rather than those considered desirable in the modern industrial state.

4. During the past five years emphasis has been on the development of training facilities for the greatly increased numbers of doctors and nurses needed to staff the very large programme of clinic and hospital development in hand. The building of such new clinics or hospital accommodation that has been undertaken during this period has had to be geared to the annual output of trained staff available each year and has thus necessarily been limited.

5. The pressure on existing institutions has to a certain extent been met by holding evening clinic sessions, by accelerating, as far as possible within the limits of safety, the turnover of patients in hospital and by developing measures for the prevention of disease that can be applied under local conditions.

6. Such results as have been achieved during the past ten years are outlined in more detail in the relevant sections of this report. The salient features have been a considerable reduction in infantile mortality rates, the absence of the formidable epidemic diseases during the past seven years, the cessation of malaria transmission in the urban areas. the elimination of rabies and the progressive reduction of the tuber- culosis mortality rate from 208 per 100,000 in 1951 to 76.2 per 100,000 in 1959.

EVENTS OF IMPORTANCE DURING THE YEAR 1959/60

7. The Society of Apothecaries in London again held examinations for the L.M.S.S.A. in Hong Kong. Of the 118 candidates who entered for the examinations, 106 sal the examinations. Of these 39 passed in all subjects and 45 passed in one or more subjects. Prior to the written examinations a 3 months refresher course was conducted by University and Government clinicians at the Queen Mary Hospital,

8. There are now 82 refugee doctors who have obtained the L.M.S.S.A. as a result of the Facilities which, with the approval of the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom, have been so generously accorded by the Society. A third and last L.M.5.5.A. examination will be held in Hong Kong towards the end of 1960.

9. Work continued on the drafting of legislation for the registration and licensing of medical clinics operating in the Colony.

Salaries Commission

10. The Commission completed its work during the year and those recommendations which were accepted by Government became effective in January 1960. The consolidation of the former high cost of living and expatriation allowances into the basic salary, 90% of which is now pensionable, has considerably improved career prospects. More promotion posts have enhanced the opportunities for the accelerated promotion of well qualified and able officers in the junior ranks of the service. Women Medical Officers who have completed their probationary service and who are members of the permanent and pensionable establishment are now receiving pay equal to that of their male counter- parts.

Drug Addiction

11. The publication in November 1959 of a White Paper on the Problem of Narcotic Drugs in Hong Kong focussed attention on the widespread use of addicting narcotic drugs, particularly heroin. The treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts amongst convicted prisoners has been placed on a sound basis at H.M. Prison Tai Lam where 700 prisoners can be accommodated. There is however a demand for accommodation for the treatment of addicts on a voluntary basis and The details of a pilot scheme, within the new Castle Peak Hospital of 1,000 beds for mental patients, have been worked out. A ward block of 120 beds will be set aside for this purpose and addicts coming forward as voluntary patients will be expected to surrender their liberty for a period of six months. During this time treatment and training will be given which is designed to build up the individuals physically and psychologically for rehabilitation and re-absorption into the community, Full social and medical records will be obtained with view to assessing the local circumstances giving rise to addiction and the measures best fitted to prevent it. A vital necessity in any such rehabilitation pro- gramme is the cutting off of sources of supply and thus of temptation. To this end a vigorous drive against traffickers is being maintained by the police and preventive services, with considerable success.

12. The secondment of a trained Psychiatrist to the Prison Medical Service has enabled some preliminary investigation into the causes of drug addiction amongst prisoners to be started, Dental Council

13. The statutory regulation of the practice of dentistry in Hong Kong dates from the promulgation of the Dentistry Ordinance No. 16

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