ENG-1981 — Page 146

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HEALTH

physicians from Bangladesh, Burma, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philip- pines, Singapore and Thailand with an in-depth account of the latest theories and practices in the field of drug addiction treatment and rehabilitation.

As a result of continual efforts to eradicate the scourge of drug addiction, Hong Kong can claim to have contained its drug problem and made successful inroads into preventing the spread of drug abuse among young people and in reducing criminal behavious among addicts.

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, the control of food hygiene, and disposal of the dead.

A regular workforce of about 5 000 and a fleet of 405 vehicles, most of them specialised vehicles, are employed by the Urban Services Department to carry out the cleansing task. Apart from flyovers and high speed roads which are swept once daily by mechanical sweepers, most streets in the urban areas are swept manually on an average of four times a day.

The collection of domestic refuse is done free of charge and the service is provided to all built-up areas. About 3 300 tonnes of refuse are collected every day. There is also a free nightsoil collection service for the few remaining areas of Hong Kong which do not have a water-borne sewage disposal system.

The second Clean Hong Kong Campaign was officially launched in October 1981. Sponsored by the Government and the Urban Council, the campaign will last until the end of 1982. It emphasises public education, community involvement and enforcement of legislation. During 1981, 58 484 people were fined for litter offences.

Controls

District health inspectors are responsible for the maintenance of satisfactory standards of hygiene through the enforcement of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance. They 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.

In order to protect the health of factory workers and put the factory canteens under proper control, canteens in industrial buildings are now required by law to satisfy certain conditions and health requirements before they can be licensed.

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

The food section of the Urban Services Department continued to monitor the hygienic standard of food produced and sold through regular inspections of establishments and the systematic sampling of their products for chemical and microbiological analysis. A research and development unit has been set up to promote food safety and food quality in accordance with the latest development in food science and toxicological evaluation, to bring the existing food law in line with international standards. The unit also gives advice to local food traders on hygiene in the manufacture of food.

The central licensing section is 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 Ordinance and the Dutiable Commodities (Liquor) Regulations.