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INDUSTRIAL HEALTH

248. The health of workers in factories and in other industrial under- takings is the statutory responsibility of the Commissioner of Labour. The Industrial Health Section of the Labour Department which is staffed by personnel seconded from the Medical and Health Department, is chiefly concerned with the prevention of occupational disease and the protection of workers against health hazards arising from the working environment. Advice is offered to industry on problems connected with the hygiene of work places, the use of protective clothing and equipment and the provision of clinic or first-aid facilities.

249. Investigations continue into the working conditions in trades known to be hazardous to health and medical supervision is maintained of workers in certain dangerous trades such as those in which lead and radio-active substances are handled. Health Visitors carry out individual case work on injured persons claiming compensation under the Work- men's Compensation Ordinance.

250. An inter-departmental committee on Silicosis submitted its final report to Government in March 1962, in which it recommended certain measures for controlling the disease. The Committee found particular difficulty in attempting to formulate an acceptable compensation scheme for affected workers and recommended seeking expert advice, from out- side the Colony, on this issue.

251. The contamination of various working environments by toxic gases, fumes or dust, was the subject of continuing field surveys: temperature and ventilation studies have also been made in a number of factories.

252.

Lectures on Industrial Health are given to probationer Labour Inspectors, Health Inspectors, Health Visitors and medical students of the University of Hong Kong. First Aid training classes for industry are organized by the Industrial Health Section and are conducted by the St. John Ambulance Association.

253. The staff of the Industrial Health Section during 1961 consisted of a Senior Medical and Health Officer, one Medical and Health Officer and three Health Visitors, all of whom are seconded from the Medical and Health Department.

254. An additional commitment arose in connexion with the cleans- ing of aircraft contaminated by radio-active dust following on the Russian nuclear explosions. This involved extensive monitoring of rags

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and mops used for cleaning and advice to employers regarding measures to protect personnel engaged in this work.

HEALTH EDUCATION

255. A better appreciation by the Colony's population of the basic principles of environmental hygiene and the prevention of disease con- tinues to be the main health objective. A very wide field is covered by many branches of the Medical and Health Department and all available methods of Health Education are used in the various programmes under- taken. A novel method which was given a trial during an immunization campaign in rural areas in the New Territories is 'sky shouting'. A helicopter flew over villages the day before immunization teams would be operating in the area and broadcast propaganda relating to the campaign. The response to this measure was most encouraging,

256. In general, health education methods designed for individual or group education have proved the most effective, being used with success in the Maternal and Child Health Service, the Tuberculosis Service and the Social Hygiene Service. On the other hand, methods suitable for widespread dissemination of health education, as in the immunization campaigns amongst the general public, are accorded a somewhat apathetic reception. However, a general response to mass pro- paganda can now be expected in the threat of an epidemic of major importance as was the experience during the cholera outbreak.

257. A number of other departments are concerned with various aspects of Health Education in their respective spheres. The Inter- departmental Committee on Health Education formed in 1959 continued to concentrate its efforts on the furtherance of the anti-diphtheria campaign. Health exhibits were included in the Agricultural Show in the Sai Kung district of the New Territories in September 1961 and in the Fisheries Exhibition in Aberdeen during the Chinese New Year in February 1962.

258. The co-operation of all voluntary bodies interested in health topics is actively sought and Kaifong Associations and Welfare Societies are particularly active in this field. Many of the Kaifongs take a lively and practical interest in the health problems of their respective districts and co-operate in immunization campaigns and in education on environ- mental hygiene.

259. A small health education team, formed during the year in the New Territories, was active in promoting better standards of hygiene and living conditions in rural areas and in preparing the way for

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