ENG-1959 — Page 163

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HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT

Apothecaries. The Society is being requested to hold a third and last examination in the Colony towards the end of 1960.

GENERAL HEALTH

Against the background of overcrowding, a limited water supply and lack of adequate housing and modern sanitation the general level of health is remarkably well maintained, but the rising incidence of diphtheria and the enteric diseases gave cause for concern, particularly as protective inoculations are widely available, at no cost, to all who seek them.

For the seventh year in succession there were no cases of the six quarantinable diseases which are the subject of control under International Sanitary Regulations. Outbreaks of cholera and smallpox in nearby countries on the main air and sea routes to Hong Kong made special vigilance necessary. During the outbreak of smallpox in Singapore additional facilities for vaccination were made available and the response resulted in some 1,034,138 vaccinations being performed, as compared with 564,244 during 1958. For the fourth year in succession the Colony was-free of animal and human rabies.

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The incidence of notified cases of measles, chicken pox and whooping cough was lower than in the previous year, but this does not reflect the true situation as many cases occur which are not reported. This gave an unduly high fatality rate for measles, as all cases of death are necessarily recorded. There was relatively little influenza and malaria notifications dropped by approximately 40%.

Tuberculosis continues to be the major health problem, but progress is being made and the results of the control measures applied are encouraging. Accidents inside and outside the home continue to cause much disability, death and loss of working time. Education in the prevention of accidents, particularly those due to fire and traffic has been greatly intensified. The toll, however, remains very high on account of the density of the population, overcrowded living conditions and the phenomenal increase in vehicles.

Vital Statistics. Until the population census has been taken in 1961 the precise age structure of the population will not be known,