ENG-1967 — Page 140

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HEALTH

organizations including, particularly, the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, the Grantham Hospital, the Alice Ho Miu Ling Nether- sole Hospital, the Caritas Hospital and the Hong Kong Anti- Tuberculosis and Thoracic Diseases Association. These subventions total an estimated $48,973,000 for the year under review. The combined estimated expenditure of the Medical and Health Depart- ment and medical subventions represents 9.30 per cent of the Colony's estimated total expenditure. The estimated capital expendi- ture for the Medical and Health Department during 1967-8 in respect of hospital and other buildings, including furniture and equipment, is $14,829,500.

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

COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Hong Kong remained free from cholera throughout the year. The last case was reported in November, 1966. In view of the continuing incidence of the disease in nearby countries, however, special preventive measures were continued and strict quarantine restrictions were maintained in respect of various neighbouring countries declared infected. Bacteriological investigation was carried out of all specimens sent to the government laboratories from cases of gastro-enteritis and there was daily sampling of nightsoil and routine sampling of seawater, well water and food- stuffs liable to be sources of transmission of the vibrio. All such samples proved to be negative for cholera organisms. A mass prophylactic immunization campaign against cholera started in April and by the end of the year a total of 1,318,991 inoculations had been given.

Tuberculosis remains Hong Kong's principal community health problem. Many thousands of unselected examinations carried out