148
HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT
attention to health education. 'Miss Ping On', a figure composed of two Chinese characters (TE), which may be translated as 'good health', appeared on a series of posters, and was well received. The series covered many aspects, typical examples being the proper disposal of refuse and the importance of fresh air and sunlight. The posters, some of which are illustrated elsewhere in this Report, were also reproduced as film slides for showing in cinemas. In addition, a loudspeaker van was used for talks, an essay competition held, and an oratorical contest arranged for school children. A series of demonstrations in clean food handling was given to 8,230 employees of licensed food establishments and to Kaifong Associations, and 3,380 copies of a booklet 'From Hand to Mouth' were distributed.
Food Inspection. Further locally-recruited inspectors were sent to the United Kingdom for training in Meat and Food Inspection and on their return, after successfully qualifying for the Royal Society of Health Certificate of Meat and Other Foods, were available for the small food unit created as a result of the Colony's dependance on imported foodstuffs and the important export trade in Chinese delicacies. With the expansion of this unit, a greater measure of protection will be afforded to the food supply of the Colony.
Slaughterhouses. The slaughter of food animals is, in the urban areas, restricted to the two Government slaughterhouses, one at Kennedy Town, Hong Kong, and the other at Ma Tau Kok, Kowloon. During the year 1,036,160 pigs, 126,872 cattle and 10,846 sheep and goats were slaughtered there.
The premises are old and cramped, and their inadequacies mean that it is extremely difficult to maintain an acceptable standard either of hygiene or of inspection, although, wherever possible, improvements are carried out. In order to remedy this situation plans for two new abattoirs, one on each side of the harbour, are now well in hand. The congested state of the abat- toirs was not eased this year by the very large imports of cattle from China. While the slaughter-rate increased considerably, the weight of meat did not rise proportionately because of the poor quality of the live animals.
The by-products plant showed the best returns yet since its inception in 1954. During the year it converted 603 tons of
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