ENG-1969 — Page 170

HEALTH

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major centres of the urban areas. Similar specialist facilities are provided in the New Territories by visiting teams from Hong Kong and Kowloon. Mobile dispensaries and floating clinics take medical services to the more remote areas of the New Territories, especially the isolated villages on the eastern and western coasts. Other inaccessible villages are visited by the flying doctor service.

Since the Medical Clinics Ordinance came into effect in January 1964, 436 private clinics have been granted registration, of which 355 were exempted from employing registered doctors. Under the Medical Clinics (Amendment) Ordinance of 1966 the power of the Registrar of Clinics to register clinics with exemption was extended for three years as from January 1967, and all clinics, whether registered or registered with exemption, are required to be re- registered annually. It is intended that the power of the Registrar to register clinics with exemption be extended for another two years as from January 1970. The Low Cost Medical Care Scheme under which static clinics are set up in resettlement and housing estates continued to operate during the year and in allocating these premises registered doctors are given priority.

DENTAL SERVICES

The Government Dental Service undertakes complete dental care for all monthly-paid government officers and their families and offers a limited treatment programme for inpatients of government hospitals, prisoners and inmates of training centres. The service also provides emergency treatment for the general public at certain clinics. There are 30 government dental clinics, including one mobile unit which supplements static clinic facilities.

Fluoridation of Hong Kong's urban water supply began in 1961 and most of the population now receives water which has been treated with sodium fluoride or sodium silico-fluoride. The rate of enrichment is one part of fluoride per million parts of water; the cost per person receiving fluoridated water is 11.9 cents per annum. It would appear from clinical observation that this measure has already brought about a reduction in the prevalence of dental caries, particularly among children, and that this benefit will become more marked in the future.