ENG-1971 — Page 158

104

HEALTH

of imported meat and poultry are stored for inspection. Frozen meat and poultry are imported in ever-increasing quantity and at present, 20 countries have become approved sources for this supply. The sale of food and drink for local consumption, including milk and ice- cream, is controlled by systematic surveys and sampling which check on quality and purity through bacteriological and chemical analysis.

A pest control section advises and carries out measures for the control of rodents, cockroaches, fleas, bed-bugs, wasps, biting midges and other pests throughout the Colony. In the New Territories, the scope of this work is extended to include the control of culicine (nuisance) mosquitoes and flies. Weekly larvicidal oiling of streams to prevent the breeding of malarial mosquitoes on Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon peninsula, and in the New Territories at Kwai Chung, Rennie's Mill Village and Cheung Chau, is also a pest control function.

The health education unit continued to organise or participate in publicity campaigns on various aspects of health and hygiene. Public health training courses were held for specific groups of the public such as food handlers, scouts and cadets of the Hong Kong Red Cross and St John Ambulance Brigade Association. Various activities in the form of school children's competitions and contests were organised jointly with the Education Department and voluntary organisations.

There are 63 public retail markets in Hong Kong, 40 in the urban areas and 23 in the New Territories. Markets are convenient centres where meat, fish, poultry, vegetables and fruit may be bought at reasonable prices and under hygienic conditions. The Urban Council has launched an extensive programme for the reconstruction of the older and more outmoded markets, as well as the construction of new ones in areas of growing population. The new markets are built to modern standards with larger, brighter stalls and improved facili- ties. Particular attention is being paid to the setting up of market facilities in resettlement estates where lack of these has resulted in a considerable hawker problem. A new type of market specifically designed for high density housing estates is being built in all new resettlement and low-cost housing estates and will also be introduced into existing resettlement estates.

Although the implementation of the Urban Council's policy on hawkers has been hampered by lack of manpower for control and law enforcement, a number of major hawker operations has been carried out and continuous containing action has been taken with