ENG-1975 — Page 120

HEALTH

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seven health inspectors were sent to Britain in September for specialised training not available in Hong Kong.

Markets

A major development in market operation was the decision to install an escalator in the Mong Kok market which is now under construction, in an attempt to make the upper storey commercially viable. Most of the older markets have little business on the upper floors-due, it is believed, to consumer resistance against walking upstairs to shop.

A decision was also made during the year to develop temporary markets on sites which have been earmarked for future development as multi-purpose buildings, including markets. This will increase marketing facilities more quickly. In most cases the temporary markets will have a life of approximately 10 years before the sites are developed for permanent buildings containing other additional facilities.

Hawkers

The number of hawkers tends to vary with the state of the economy, and the tighter financial situation in 1975 resulted in many more people moving into street trading to supplement the family income. As an experiment, 20 areas in Kowloon were designated as hawker permitted areas where both licensed or unlicensed hawkers could operate with a minimum of official interference. The experiment received wide- spread publicity and considerable criticism in some areas where the hawkers almost completely strangled the commercial life of the retail and wholesale shops, and made it nearly impossible to move vehicles through the streets. Towards the end of the year plans were put in hand to bring the situation under control.

Abattoirs

The Kennedy Town abattoir on Hong Kong Island and the Cheung Sha Wan abattoir in Kowloon continue to provide the bulk of the population's fresh meat. They operate to high standards of hygiene. During the year 2,455,170 pigs, 141,192 cattle and 15,776 goats were slaughtered at both abattoirs. The daily average was 2,610 pigs, 171 cattle and 21 goats at Kennedy Town; and 4,116 pigs, 216 cattle and 23 goats at Cheung Sha Wan.

A third pig dressing line was installed at the Cheung Sha Wan abattoir and came into operation in August. The installation of a third pig dressing line at the Kennedy Town abattoir has begun, and is due to be completed in 1976. Improvements to the by-products plant and the cattle dressing lines are also planned. There are two private slaughterhouses in the New Territories-one in Yuen Long and the other in Tai Po. Animals slaughtered in the government abattoirs and the private slaughterhouses are inspected by health inspectors of the Urban Services Department.

Services in the New Territories

The New Territories division of the Urban Services Department looks after environmental hygiene, cleansing, hawkers and markets, slaughterhouses, recreation

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