ENG-1978 — Page 125

HEALTH

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from this area that most of Hong Kong's opiate drugs come. The advanced tech- niques and methods used in anti-narcotics work in Hong Kong have made the territory an increasingly important venue for the training of anti-narcotics officials from other countries. During 1978, Hong Kong arranged training attachments and instructional visits for a total of 96 officers from all over the world.

On legislation against drug abuse, an important amendment which became law in June, 1978, was an updating of the definition of 'cannabis' to cover the entire plant. While there is no widespread abuse of cannabis in Hong Kong, the government is of the view that timely preventive measures must be taken.

Environmental Hygiene

The work of the Urban Services Department includes street cleaning, the collection and removal of refuse and nightsoil, the management of public toilets and bathhouses, and the disposal of the dead. In the urban areas the department operates as the executive arm of the Urban Council, whereas the authority for the New Territories is the Director of Urban Services.

Special vehicles collect about 2,800 tonnes of household refuse daily. Of this, some 1,500 tonnes are incinerated and the rest is disposed of at controlled tipping sites. There is also a nightsoil collection service for the few remaining areas of Hong Kong which have no water-borne sewage disposal system.

All streets are swept at least once a day, either manually or mechanically, while busier thoroughfares are swept more frequently. All streets are washed by special vehicles once a week. Despite this, and the provision of about 32,000 litter bins and containers, litter remains a problem. The 'Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign' has therefore continued with particular emphasis on public education, community involvement and enforcement of legislation. More than 41,310 people were fined for litter offences during the year.

Controls

District health inspectors continued to take action to ensure that standards of hygiene were maintained at satisfactory levels. During the year they carried out regular inspections of licensed premises, residential and commercial buildings, construction sites, and dealt with vermin infestation and complaints about unhygienic conditions. In appropriate cases arrests were made and summary action was taken if public health laws had been contravened.

The Food Section operates a food safety programme which monitors food products offered for sale. To increase efficiency food inspection units in Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories were centralised at the beginning of the year, enabling the section to take emergency action where necessary. In addition to routine food sampl- ing and testing, the section sets out to obtain the co-operation of food traders in the promotion of food safety. Importers are advised of the precautions needed to minimise the amount of contaminated foods offered for sale, and manufacturers are warned of the possible hazards associated with food processing and how best to overcome them.

In 1978, the Health Education Section produced features on health topics which were publicised through the mass media. In addition lectures were given to school-