ENG-1963 — Page 212

168

HEALTH

the chlorination of wells used for domestic purposes was con- tinued, and the general public was reminded of the dangers of unpurified water.

When the first case of cholera occurred the environmental hygiene measures adopted in previous years were again brought into operation. These included day and night raids on sellers of cut fruit and other prohibited foods, and a number of staff were placed on 24-hour duty to assist in the investigation and follow-up of cases.

Health Education. The health education section again conducted publicity campaigns throughout the year and undertook more in- tensive training measures and lectures to special audiences. The most important development in this work during the year was the organization_of fortnightly courses in health education for food handlers. As in previous years, a competition designed to raise the standard of hygiene in resettlement estates was held, and a speech- making competition for school children was planned with the help of the Junior Chamber of Commerce. The principal theme of general publicity during the year was food hygiene.

Slaughter-houses. Food animals slaughtered at the two Govern- ment slaughter-houses, one on Hong Kong Island and the other in Kowloon, totalled 99,149 cattle, 1,690,096 pigs and 8,486 sheep/ goats, as compared with 101,553, 1,319,169 and 9,880 respectively last year, representing a decrease of 2.4 per cent, an increase of 28.1 per cent and a decrease of 14.1 per cent respectively. The main sup- ply of cattle came from China and Cambodia, while China was again the major pig supplier. Every step is being taken to ensure that the two new abattoirs at Kennedy Town and Cheung Sha Wan are completed as soon as possible. In July 1962, Government accepted a tender for the supply of a great deal of the complicated equipment required for them and the architects are proceeding with the work- ing drawings for their construction. Facilities in the by-products plant at Kennedy Town slaughter-house, which hygienically deals with all diseased meat and unfit foodstuffs from the two slaughter- houses and other sources, were again taxed to capacity throughout the year. During the year 166 tons of meat and bone meal for animal feed and 196 tons of inedible grease for industrial use were produced in addition to the salvaging of small quantities of other animal products.