ENG-1959 — Page 195

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HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT

the primary object being to meet the needs of residents of densely- populated areas where flush sanitation is scarce or non-existent, Two new buildings containing a public latrine and bathhouse were completed, making a total of twenty two in the urban districts. In addition, one new public latrine was erected. Twenty three bath- houses providing free hot and cold showers were used by 2,887,812 people during the year, a daily average of 7,912.

Pest Control, The Pest Control Section of the Urban Services Department is responsible for the control of rats, mice, mosquitoes, fleas, cockroaches, bed-bugs, lice, midges, and other pests. This section also carried out regular control measures against flies at the Gin Drinker's Bay Refuse Dump.

Control of rodents is an important part of the Section's duties, and a total of 293,175 rodents (including those deposited in rat-bins by the public) were collected during the year. Another important aspect of the work is that of mosquito control. 11,495 breeding places were found and dealt with during 1959. The control of Cat Fleas, arising from infestations of both cats and dogs, called for continued attention; 191 disinfestations of premises were car- ried out by the Section during the year.

Scavenging and Conservancy. About 4,000 persons were em- ployed on the collection and disposal of refuse and on street cleansing, using 63 specialized refuse-collecting vehicles, 12 street- washing vehicles, 2 combined cesspit emptiers and washing vehicles and 22 dumb barges especially constructed for the transport of bulk refuse. A day and night street-washing service was also maintained for the cleansing of roads, lanes, side channels, foot- paths, market and hawker areas, the flushing of street gully traps and the laying of dust round building sites and reclamations.

The daily average amount of refuse collected rose from approx- imately 2,200 cubic yards in 1958 to about 2,400 cubic yards in 1959. The annual increase in volume is about 10%. Disposal is by marine dumping on an area of foreshore which is being reclaimed at Gin Drinker's Bay in the New Territories, some five miles west of the urban area of Kowloon. Since the dump first opened in September 1955 some 705,800 square feet of land have been reclaimed.

Only about two-thirds of the buildings in the urban area have water-borne sanitation, and the conservancy section provides for

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