ENG-1958 — Page 180

PUBLIC HEALTH

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number of licensed premises. Three of these units form a Health District, responsibility for the district resting with a District Health Inspector. In turn, these districts are grouped appropriately to form Health Areas, each under the supervision of a Senior Health Inspector. This system permits an easy variation of boundaries in conformity with the development of individual

areas.

The greater proportion of the district inspectors' time is allotted to the regular inspection of the 120,000 domestic floors in the urban areas, an average of 2,000 floors per inspector; this is well in excess of the 1,200 floors which is regarded as the desirable maximum for one inspector, although even 1,200 floors for one district inspector is a very high figure. The limiting factor is the capacity to recruit, train and absorb new officers. Forty eight probationary inspectors were recruited for training during 1958, and twenty seven newly-qualified inspectors from the previous course became available and were posted for duty, making some seventy three engaged on this work.

There was favourable public reaction to the new system of block house inspection, introduced during the year. House- holders are notified by postcard of the date and time that their premises will be inspected. A team of four or five inspectors is employed to carry out block inspection in one district on five mornings of the week. This enables the visiting inspectors to abate many nuisances on the spot by direct action, to instruct the occupants on health education, and to receive any complaints. Access to premises has proved much easier and more co-operation has been given by the public.

The other major part of the district inspectors' work is con- cerned with supervision of the 9,000 premises licensed by the Urban Council, most of which are premises dealing with raw or unprotected foods. Those concerned with food handling and the catering trades are far from being fully aware of the basic prin- ciples of food hygiene; once again the fundamental need is health education. To this end licensed food establishments were given special attention during inspections, resulting in a marked improve- ment in standards of cleanliness.

Most people in Hong Kong are not conscious of the importance of health measures, and the Council has had to pay special

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