ENG-1970 — Page 129

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HEALTH

children receive medical treatment from private medical practi- tioners for the small sum of $7 a year. This per capita fee does not meet the cost of the service and the Government contributes an equal sum, as well as the cost of administrative expenses. At the end of the year 42,803 students attending schools were enrolled in the service and 183 private medical practitioners were participating.

The School Health Service continues as a government responsi- bility and is concerned with the environmental health and sanitary condition of school premises and the control of communicable diseases in schools. Routine inspection of schools is undertaken by school health inspectors, while immunisation of school children against the major infectious diseases is arranged by health officers.

MENTAL HEALTH

Psychiatric cases from the whole Colony are admitted to the Castle Peak Hospital, mostly as voluntary patients. Outpatient treatment is available in the urban area and in the New Territories, and day-patients are treated in the Psychiatric Day Centre on Hong Kong Island as well as the Yau Ma Tei Psychiatric Centre in Kowloon. The latter Centre also provides special facilities for the observation of disturbed children. An acute Psychiatric Unit is provided in the Kowloon Hospital New Wing, which also provides facilities for the treatment of day-patients. A Psychiatric Observa- tion Unit is operated in the Victoria Reception Centre for remand prisoners, and there is one ward for very low-grade mentally sub- normal children in the Tung Wah Hospital. Other cases of mental subnormality are in the care of the Social Welfare Department where they receive occupational training. Certain voluntary agencies, working in close co-operation with the Mental Health Service, assist in rehabilitation of patients before their return to full social and economic activities in the community.

DRUG DEPENDENCY

Drug addicts who volunteer for treatment and rehabilitation are treated in a drug-free environment at a rehabilitation centre on Shek Kwu Chau Island; their stay varies from four to six months. This institution is run by the Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation