SFH meets with District Councils on environmental hygiene (with photo)
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At the meeting, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) gave an account of government work on mosquito and rodent control, the preliminary results of the review on the pilot scheme on installing Internet Protocol (IP) cameras at refuse dumping black spots, and the strengthened cleaning services for central dividers.
Dr Ko said, "The mosquito prevention and control measures adopted by the Government in the 18 districts are carried out unceasingly. The monthly ovitrap indexes last year were roughly lower than those of the past few years."
The participants noted that the FEHD would strengthen mosquito control and prevention work at construction sites in particular. Extra pest control inspection teams are being established to step up inspections at construction sites and take enforcement action against mosquito breeding. Last year, 31 of the 45 prosecutions instigated by the FEHD against mosquito breeding in premises involved construction sites.
In addition, the Department of Health requires all inbound flights from Zika-affected areas to comply with the new requirements of aircraft disinsection work against mosquitoes and pests on board before arrival. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will also strengthen control over biting midges in facilities under its management.
On rodent control, the FEHD will launch a two-month anti-rodent campaign at small targeted areas in all districts in May. According to its respective condition, each district will identify a number of streets as small targeted areas for combating rodent problems. FEHD's pest control, cleaning, environmental hygiene, market and hawker sections will adopt a multi-pronged strategy with a view to eliminating all food, accommodation and activity areas of rodents. The introduction of overseas rodenticide is also being considered.
Dr Ko said the pilot scheme to install IP cameras at six refuse dumping black spots by FEHD had progressed smoothly and had seen some initial effectiveness. The volume of illegal disposed refuse and the number of the relevant complaints have decreased significantly while the environmental hygiene of the black spots has improved. With the use of IP cameras to collect evidence, the FEHD instituted the first successful prosecution against illegal dumping in March this year.
Upon the completion of the pilot scheme this June, the FEHD will conduct a comprehensive review on its effectiveness, including the deployment of resources, to consider the necessity of the scheme or ways to extend it.
On the cleanliness of central dividers, the FEHD is educating the public through various channels not to dispose of refuse from vehicles. The FEHD inspects and records regularly the hygiene condition of central dividers under its purview.
Moreover, additional provisions are being included in street cleaning contracts to require contractors to provide cleaning services for central dividers and roadside landscape with dedicated teams. Subject to the availability of resources, the FEHD will consider deploying manpower or installing IP cameras to strengthen enforcement.
"We will consider the views and suggestions raised by the participants and continue to review the effectiveness of various cleaning measures in the interest of making timely adjustments," said Dr Ko.
He appealed to DC and members of the public to lend support to the work of the Government to keep Hong Kong clean and reduce the spread of disease.
The Government has put in place a regular meeting mechanism with the environmental hygiene committees of the 18 District Councils following the "Keep Clean" campaign in 2015. The Secretary for Food and Health will meet the committees about once every six months to listen to their views on the effectiveness of the Government's environmental hygiene measures with a view to better co-ordinating overall efforts to address environmental hygiene issues in Hong Kong.
Ends/Friday, April 21, 2017
Issued at HKT 19:07
Issued at HKT 19:07
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