ENG-1974 — Page 128

HEALTH

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beverages. From October, a survey on pesticides in food, beginning with poultry and poultry products, began to ascertain how far agricultural products have been con- taminated, and effective controls can be planned.

The cornerstone of the territory's retail food supply continued to be the 61 retail markets (41 in Hong Kong and Kowloon and 20 in the New Territories), where fresh meat, fish, poultry, fruit, vegetables and other food is sold under conditions laid down by food hygiene legislation.

Many of the markets are now too small and ill-equipped to meet the heavy demands of a rapidly growing population. Therefore, the Urban Council has launched an extensive programme for the redevelopment of old markets, as well as the con- struction of new ones.

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In line with the latest concept, new markets are being included on the lower floors of some multi-user buildings which provide a full range of community facilities (for example, multi-storey car parks, social welfare facilities, clinics, and government offices) on the upper floors. The new markets are built to modern standards with larger stalls and improved facilities, and also provide accommodation for hawkers who formerly traded on the streets. Particular emphasis is also placed on the provi- sion of adequate market facilities for public housing estates, where lack of facilities has resulted in a considerable hawker problem.

Investigations into which could become hawker-permitted streets under the Hawker By-laws (1972) were completed during the year. Involved were representatives of the Urban Council, Urban Services Department, Royal Hong Kong Police Force, the Home Affairs Department, Fire Services, Transport Department and Public Works Department. The results will be placed before the council's hawkers select committee with recommendations as to which streets should be gazetted. Legislation, including the naming of hawker-permitted streets, was also being drafted to control hawkers in the New Territories.

The reorganisation of the Urban Services Department in 1973 led to a decen- tralisation of hawker control enforcement. The policy of non-issue of further licences continued, as did plans to move on-street hawkers into off-street sites wherever possible.

The Hawker Control Force, its strength now down to about 250, policed hawkers only in certain districts of Hong Kong Island. In Kowloon, policing of hawkers remained a responsibility of the police. A change in the situation was underway with the gradual introduction of general duties teams, intended to combine the functions of supervision with cleansing.

Pest control staff carry out measures for the control of rodents, mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches, fleas, ticks, bed-bugs, and other pests of public health or medical importance. They also give advice to the public and government departments. Their work includes clearing, training and regular weekly larvicidal oiling of streams to prevent breeding of malarial mosquitoes on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon, and at Kwai Chung, Rennie's Mill Village and Cheung Chau in the New Territories.