ENG-1990 — Page 209

HEALTH

buildings, squatter areas, construction sites and undeveloped land throughout the territory to enforce the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance and its subsidiary legisla- tion. They also respond to complaints about poor sanitation and vermin infestation and work closely with the Department of Health in the investigation and control of food- poisoning outbreaks and infectious diseases.

To protect public health, the Urban Council has adopted a review system to identify food business establishments which pose fire, health or environmental risks and now requires that they comply with current standards before their licenses or permits can be renewed. To deter indiscriminate offenders, the council has also introduced a Demerit Points System, whereby the accumulation of 15 points for convictions within a 12-month period forms the basis for suspension or cancellation of a food premises' license or permit.

Unlicensed food premises in the Regional Council area which have failed to apply for a licence or have not complied with the requirements specified have been the target for more stringent control, with prosecutions being increased in frequency from monthly to weekly. This has had the effect of dramatically reducing the number of unlicensed food businesses by 74 per cent, from 634 in February 1987 to 162 in June 1990.

For the prevention of vector-borne diseases, pest control staff of the Urban Services Department and Regional Services Department continued with integrated programmes to control rodents, mosquitoes, flies and other public health pests. Measures taken includ- ed environmental improvement, eradication of breeding places, health education and law enforcement. Special surveillance was maintained to prevent outbreaks of malaria in Vietnamese boat people detention centres. Technical support was provided by the Pest Control Advisory Section of the Department of Health.

Environmental Health Education

Under the auspices of the two Municipal Councils, the Health Education Unit of the Department of Health organised a number of programmes in 1990 to promote envi- ronmental health. The Look After Our Home Environment publicity campaign aimed at encouraging the public to take positive steps to keep the living environment clean, while the annual Food Hygiene Campaign highlighted the important relationship between the environment and food preparation with its theme Clean Place, Safe Food. Territory- wide publicity campaigns were also directed at the prevention of rodent infestation and nuisances caused by mosquitoes and dripping air-conditioners. Environmental health information was also disseminated by the unit's resource centre and through talks, mobile van broadcasting and a telephone hotline.

In conjunction with the Education Department, the unit sought to raise health con- sciousness among students with an Inter-School Health Education Project and Painting Competition early in the year and Inter-School Health Education Speech and Song Contests at the close of the

Food

year.

The health inspectorate, backed by hygiene consultancy, controls food for sale, both imported and locally produced. With laboratory resources and assisted by a scientific advisory arm, the inspectorate ensures that the consumer is able to buy good whole- some food, which is unadulterated, uncontaminated, properly described and of nutritious quality.

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