ENG-1994 — Page 226

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HEALTH

A six-month experimental scheme in Tuen Mun had proved the effectiveness of dedicated teams in curbing illegal shop extensions. As a result, 10 such teams were set up in five districts of the New Territories.

During the year, the hawker control teams of the Regional Council, comprising 949 trained staff members, secured 44 000 court convictions on illegal hawking offences and reduced the number of unlicensed hawkers by 55 to 1 842.

Abattoirs

There are two abattoirs in the urban area and three slaughterhouses in the New Territories. With the exception of Cheung Sha Wan Abattoir, which is run by the Urban Council, all the others are managed by licensed private operators. To meet long-term demand, a site has been reserved for a new slaughterhouse in Sheung Shui.

During the year, these abattoirs and slaughterhouses handled 2 707 700 pigs, 132 200 head of cattle and 10 000 goats, which accounted for virtually all of the local fresh meat supply. To ensure the wholesomeness of the meat, all slaughtered animals were inspected by qualified health inspectors of the municipal services departments.

The Urban Services Department and the Regional Services Department also maintain vigilance against illegal slaughtering. In 1994, health inspectors carried out 350 raids on suspected illegal slaughterhouses. Staff also carried out spot checks on meat stalls and 24 persons were prosecuted for possessing unstamped carcasses for sale.

Cemeteries and Crematoria

It is government policy to encourage cremation, rather than burial, of the dead. During the year, over 76 per cent of the territory's dead were cremated. Human remains buried in public cemeteries have to be exhumed after six years and are either cremated or re-interred in an urn cemetery.

The Urban Council operates one public funeral parlour in Kowloon which provides free funeral services for the needy. Three service halls at the parlour are also open for public use free-of-charge.

In the urban area, the council manages five public cemeteries and two public crematoria, and monitors 18 private cemeteries. Two war cemeteries are under the management of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

In November, a new columbarium was completed at the Cape Collinson Crematorium, providing 19 509 new niches for use. Additional cremators are under construction at the crematorium to meet increasing demand.

The Regional Council manages four public crematoria and six public cemeteries in the New Territories. It also oversees nine private cemeteries and six private crematoria.

Columbaria are provided at Kwai Chung, Fu Shan, Cheung Chau, Wo Hop Shek, Lamma and Peng Chau for the deposit of cremated ashes.