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HEALTH

Voluntary bodies and welfare organisations operate free or low-cost dental clinics for the general public.

Port Health

The Port Health Service is concerned with preventing the introduction of quar- antinable diseases into Hong Kong, the sanitary control of port and airport areas, and the provision of facilities as required by the International Health Regulations.

It provides facilities for vaccination and the issue of International Vaccination Certificates. It also deals with the inspection and deratting of ships on international voyages and the issue of International Deratting Certificates. The service renders medical assistance to ships in the harbour and transmits free medical advice to ships at sea. It maintains a 24-hour service for the inspection of incoming passengers by sea and air and handles the granting of radio pratique to ships from clean ports.

Epidemiological information is regularly exchanged with the World Health Organisation in Geneva and the Western Pacific regional office in Manila, and with several neighbouring countries.

Special Services

The Institute of Pathology maintains clinical pathology and public health labor- atory services for the government and a consultant service for the government-assisted sector. Vaccine is produced at the Institute of Immunology. Studies are carried out on viral hepatitis, poliomyelitis, rabies and cytomegalic inclusion body disease.

The Institute of Radiology and Oncology provides diagnostic and therapeutic services in hospitals and clinics. It handles more than 90 per cent of all patients requiring radiotherapy in Hong Kong. Visits are made to non-government premises to inspect the working conditions of radiation workers and to ensure that X-ray equipment poses no radiation hazards to the public. Research is being conducted on the epidemiology of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

The Government Laboratory is responsible for the examination of food, liquors, pharmaceuticals, and other commodities. The Forensic Pathology Service works closely with the Royal Hong Kong Police Force on the medical aspects of criminology.

Drug Abuse

Drug abuse in Hong Kong is a serious and long-standing problem. The number of addicts is commonly estimated to be between 50,000 and 100,000, although this estimate cannot be substantiated-or disproved. Typically the addicts are males over 21, from the lower income groups. They are generally single, or if married are usually separated from their families. It is believed that teenage addicts account for only about 1.5 per cent of the estimated addict population.

Most addicts in Hong Kong use 'hard' drugs. Over the past year there has been an increasing switch from opium to heroin, mainly because of the closure of many opium divans by law enforcement action and also because heroin is easier for drug traffickers to conceal and more convenient for addicts to consume. It is believed