ENG-1980 — Page 138

HEALTH

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A regular task-force of about 5,000 workers is employed in street cleaning duties that extend around the clock in Hong Kong. All streets are swept at least once a day, either manually or mechanically, while the main thoroughfares are swept four to eight times a day. The cleansing force is equipped with a fleet of more than 500 vehicles, and includes specialised refuse collection vehicles, street-washing vehicles, mechanical sweepers, night- soil collectors and gully and cesspit emptiers.

Approximately 3,000 tonnes of household refuse is collected each day from the built-up areas of Hong Kong. There is also a nightsoil collection service for the few remaining areas of Hong Kong which do not have a water-borne sewage disposal system. With the rapid development and urbanisation of the territory, the number of premises requiring this service is decreasing.

The Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign, jointly sponsored by the government and the Urban Council, is continuing. A second major Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign is also planned for 1981, with particular emphasis on increased government efforts in cleansing, education, community involvement and law enforcement. During 1980, more than 56,200 people were fined for litter offences.

Controls

To ensure that standards of hygiene are maintained at a satisfactory level, district health inspectors regularly inspect licensed premises, domestic and commercial buildings, and construction sites. Special inspections are also carried out in connection with vermin infestations and complaints about unhygienic conditions. Advice is given when improve- ments are needed. Summary action is taken and arrests are made in cases where public health laws have been contravened.

The health inspectors also work closely with the Medical and Health Department in the investigation and control of food poisoning outbreaks and infectious diseases.

During the year, the Food Section continued to monitor the hygienic standard of food produced and sold through regular inspections of food establishments and the systematic sampling of their products for chemical and microbiological analysis. Imported frozen meat, poultry, confections and UHT milk were among the large variety of food examined. The section also inspects and certifies local food intended for export.

In 1980, the Health Education Section continued to organise publicity campaigns on various health topics and to run food hygiene training courses for members of the catering trade. In addition, health lectures were given to school-children, Vietnamese refugees and members of voluntary welfare agencies. Contests and competitions were also held in schools to promote health education. The Central Licensing Section was responsible for dealing with applications for licences other than hawker licences issued under the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, the Places of Public Entertainment Ordin- ance and the Dutiable Commodities (Liquor) Regulations.

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District and regional pest control units employed a combination of source-reduction, chemical and legislative measures to prevent and control rodents, mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches, fleas and other pests.

During the year, 103 student health inspectors and 50 health inspectors completed training courses at the department's new training school in Oi Kwan Road, Wan Chai. For more specialised training, nine experienced health inspectors were sent abroad to undergo training in health education, administration, food technology and solid wastes management.