16. The training of other categories of staff is also carried out in the Colony where this is economic and practicable. Courses of depart- mental training are maintained and the curricula aim at preparing students for examinations held by recognized examining bodies in the Commonwealth. For example, during the year arrangements were made to hold the Intermediate Examination for the Institute of Medical Laboratory Technology in Hong Kong during 1961. Examinations are already being held for the Membership of the Society of Radiographers and the Health Visitors Certificate of the Royal Society of Health. Another advance in local training facilities was the inauguration of a Physiotherapy Training School under the direction of a qualified physiotherapy tutor. On the other hand, where the number of qualified personnel required makes it uneconomic to train in Hong Kong. scholarship are given by Government for training overseas. At present such scholarships are available for training in dentistry, and will be available soon for training in pharmacy. More detail is given in the section of this report dealing with the programme of training.
17. Certain other important aspects of the work of the year are worthy of mention in this general review. In the fields of environmental sanitation, food hygiene, food and drugs standards and public ameni- ties, control has been effected for the past 24 years under a series of disconnected Ordinances, the provisions of which have become in- applicable, in many instances, to present day conditions in Hong Kong. The revision and consolidation of these Ordinances has been under- taken by a Select Committee appointed by the Urban Council, with the continuous co-operation of the Medical and Health Department and in consultation with other Government Departments as and when necessary. The result has been the promulgation of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, 1960, which is described in more detail later.
18. The legislation governing the practice of midwifery in Hong Kong has continued unchanged for the past fifty years. To ensure the maintenance of the highest standards in midwifery practice throughout the Colony, the Midwives Ordinance of 1910 was repealed during 1960 and re-enacted with modifications. These modifications include more adequate provisions for the registration of midwives, wider disciplinary powers for the Midwives Board, and improved control of the practice of the profession.
19. The problem of drug addiction in Hong Kong was described in a White Paper published in November 1959. The treatment and rehabi
litation of drug addicts amongst convicted prisoners had already been placed on a sound basis by the establishment of Her Majesty's Prison at Tai Lam Chung. There remained, however, an unknown number of drug addicts who had not come into conflict with the law and who still retained sufficient strength of character to wish to terminate their craving. It was to assist such persons that the Drug Addicts (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Ordinance, 1960, was enacted. and a voluntary treatment centre of 120 beds has been opened within the Castle Peak Hospital. To this centre addicts are admitted who voluntarily seek treatment and who are willing to surrender their liberty for a period of six months.
20. In March 1961, the first of fourteen dosing plants commenced the fluoridation of Hong Kong's water supply. The fluoride ion con- centration to be maintained during the six winter months is 0.9 parts per million and during the six summer months 0.7 parts per million. This will bring the concentration in the public water supplies up to the optimum for the preservation of dental health and the prevention of caries in the child population.
ADMINISTRATION OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
21. Statutory responsibility for the administration of the services safeguarding the public health in Hong Kong lies jointly with the Director of Medical and Health Services, the Urban Council, the Director of Urban Services, the Commissioner of Labour and the District Commissioner, New Territories. Executive functions in con- nexion with curative medical services and a number of aspects of pre- ventive medicine throughout Hong Kong are the responsibility of the Medical and Health Department. The Urban Council is concerned with environmental sanitation in the urban areas of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, through the Urban Services Department. The Director of Urban Services has executive functions as the Health Authority for certain of the townships in the New Territories and administers their environmental sanitary services. Medical Officers of Health are seconded in an advisory capacity to the Urban Services Department and the Labour Department has an Industrial Health section staffed by per- sonnel of the Medical and Health Department.
STAFF
22. The Director of Medical and Health Services is the Head of the Department, the chief adviser to Government on medical and health
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