ENG-1960 — Page 186

HEALTH

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Pest Control. The Pest Control Section of the Urban Services Department is responsible for the control of rats, mice, mosqui- toes, 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. One important part of the Section's duties is control of rodents, and 324,149 rodents (including those placed by the public in rat-bins) were collected during the year. Another important part is mosquito control. 14,182 breeding places were found and dealt with. The control of infestations of Cat Fleas, which live on both cats and dogs, called for continuous attention; 133 premises were disinfested by the Section during the year.

NEW TERRITORIES

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By the end of 1960 the Director of Urban Services had assumed his new responsibility for all cleansing services and for some other aspects of environmental sanitation, while the District Commis- sioner remained the licensing authority for premises in which food is handled. The Principal Medical Officer of Health, New Territories, is in charge of the services, including the personal health services, of the Medical and Health Department in the New Territories; he also advises the Director of Urban Services on the health aspects of his department's services. Some of the staff of Health Inspectors posted by the Urban Services Department to the New Territories carry out their duties under his supervision.

The Urban Services Department provides a daily domestic refuse collection by vehicle in the townships and built-up areas, and also carries out daily beat-sweeping in the townships and larger villages which are accessible by road. All refuse collected by vehicles is disposed of by controlled tipping, either at the main refuse dump at Gin Drinker's Bay or at two subsidiary smaller dumps in the east and west of the New Territories mainland. In some villages where beat-sweeping is done, the refuse is incinerated on the spot. Public latrines, bathhouses and markets also come under the Director of Urban Services. He also controls hawkers, private markets and slaughterhouses, though the District Com- missioner, New Territories is still their licensing authority.

The Principal Medical Officer of Health, New Territories, assisted by four Health Officers, also carries health services into