ENG-1995 — Page 205

HEALTH

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Hong Kong's techniques and methods have made it an important venue for training anti-drug personnel from overseas. During the year, 330 people from 25 countries and international bodies came to the territory on study visits and training courses. Co-operation continued with other jurisdictions to provide mutual assistance in the fight against international drug trafficking and money laundering. Bilateral agreements with the United States, Canada and Australia were extended.

Auxiliary Medical Services

The Auxiliary Medical Services (AMS) form a disciplined medical civil defence corps, established in 1950 to provide supplementary resources to augment regular medical and health services in times of natural disasters and emergencies. In recent years, the AMS has promoted public awareness of disaster medicine in Hong Kong.

The AMS has 90 permanent staff and 5 258 volunteers from all walks of life, including physicians, nurses, paramedical personnel, civil servants and laymen in the private sector. By statutory requirement, the Director of Health is the Commissioner of the AMS and is responsible to the Governor for its efficient operation.

Volunteer members receive comprehensive training in areas covering first aid, life- saving, squad drill, ambulance aid, practical nursing, casualty evacuation, paramedic, clinical and hospital ward attachment, leadership and management development. Recently, disaster management has been included in the training programme. The AMS has conducted visits to overseas medical authorities and participated in international conferences as well as training courses organised by other countries.

AMS volunteer members are deployed to accident scenes to provide immediate treatment to the injured, convey casualties to hospitals and render nursing care to patients at both acute and convalescent hospitals. If required, the AMS Emergency Response Task Force is available at short notice to provide paramedical assistance at the scene.

Apart from providing emergency services, the AMS committed a total of 17 016 man-hours in 1995 to provide first aid coverage at country parks, cycle tracks, school activities and major public functions. It also committed 322 062 man-hours to assist in the daily manning of 22 methadone clinics and providing round-the-clock clinical services at eight sick bays in five Vietnamese boat people centres.

Members of the public were able to obtain information and materials concerning home safety and first aid through the newly-constructed First Aid Education Workshop in the AMS Headquarters or a 24-hour enquiry hotline (2762 2033) which started to operate through an Interactive Voice Response System from August. The AMS further provides first aid, nursing and casualty evacuation training to front-line civil servants. Regular seminars and demonstrations are organised to promote the public's awareness of home safety.

Environmental Hygiene

Working under the policy guidance of the two municipal councils, the Urban Services Department (USD) and the Regional Services Department (RSD) are responsible for environmental hygiene in the territory. This includes street cleaning, collection of household waste and animal carcasses, management of public toilets and bathhouses, licensing and inspection of restaurants and food premises, pest control, and provision

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