ENG-1966 — Page 149

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HEALTH

organizations, including particularly the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, the Grantham Hospital, the Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, the Caritas Hospital and the Hong Kong Anti-Tuberculosis Association. These subventions total an estimated $44,641,100 for the year under review. The combined estimated expenditure of the Medical and Health Department and medical subventions represents 8.72 per cent of the Colony's estimated total expenditure. The estimated capital expenditure for the Medical and Health Department during 1966-7 in respect of hospital and other buildings, including furniture and equipment, is $22,295,100.

There are five statutory bodies dealing with the registration of medical practitioners, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, and midwives. The Hong Kong Medical Council is responsible for the registration of medical practitioners and has disciplinary responsibilities under the Medical Registration Ordinance 1957; it is not an examining body. The Dental Council, Pharmacy Board, Nurses Board and Midwives Board all maintain registers, regulate training, hold examinations leading to registration or enrolment and have dis- ciplinary powers.

COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

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As stated previously, Hong Kong remained free from cholera infection throughout the greater part of the year until, on 24th November, a single case was notified. All the necessary public health preventive measures which had been undertaken as a mat- ter of routine before the outbreak were reinforced. Bacteriological investigations were continued of all specimens sent to government laboratories from cases of gastro-enteritis, and daily sampling of nightsoil, together with regular sampling of water (including seawater and well water) and of foodstuffs liable to be sources of transmission of the vibrio, remained routine procedures as part of the anti-cholera surveillance scheme. Sampling of nightsoil in the western and central districts revealed some samples infected with cholera vibrios between 23rd and 27th November. Follow-up investigations revealed five premises from which cholera vibrios were recovered. Drug prophylaxis was immediately instituted to the residents and precautionary measures were carried out. All fur- ther samples proved negative. A mass prophylactic immunization campaign against cholera commenced in April and was repeated