ENG-1956 — Page 175

PUBLIC HEALTH

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Sanitary Division. Approximately 2,600 people were em- ployed on the collection and disposal of refuse and on street cleansing, using 52 refuse-collection vehicles, 6 street-washing vehicles and 18 barges specially constructed for the removal of refuse. Street-washing vehicles were diverted from normal day-time operations to convey nullah and well-water to mar- kets, public latrines, slaughterhouses and garages for wash- ing down purposes, as a means of conserving mains water. A regular service was, however, maintained for the cleansing of street gully-traps and the nightly washing of roads and foot-paths.

The amount of refuse collected increased steadily, and amounted at the end of the year to 1,710 cubic yards daily. The method of disposal is marine dumping in an area due to be reclaimed, the present city refuse dump being recently opened at Gin Drinker's Bay in the New Territories some five miles west of Kowloon. The vehicles deliver their refuse to specially constructed barges which are towed to the dump by tugs and are there discharged by manual labour. Diffi- culties were experienced during the year as a result of the steep gradient of the sea-bed at the dumping area and the strong tidal currents, which caused slides and occasional collapses at the face of the dump. Working conditions at the dump are uncongenial and arduous, and consideration is being given to the possibility of using more modern methods. During the year additional transport was provided to convey staff to and from the dump, and it was decided that working time should include travelling time; in addition, a free mid- day meal was provided.

In the urban areas increasing difficulties in keeping street hawker sites clean has made it necessary to introduce an extra night-scavenging service in certain areas. Special ar- rangements were made for cleansing and providing temporary latrine and ablution facilities in streets in which some 28,000 people sought temporary shelter after being rendered home- less by fires in various squatter areas.

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