The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will launch a two-month anti-rodent operation in designated target areas in various districts on May 8 to strengthen rodent prevention and control efforts at the district level and remind the public of the importance of rodent prevention and control.
      
     An FEHD spokesman said, "The FEHD has always been concerned about rodent infestation in the districts and conducts a two-phase territory-wide anti-rodent campaign with relevant government departments every year. The first phase has been conducted from January to March this year while the second phase, to last for 10 weeks, will be launched in July.
      
     "In view of recent public concern about rodent-borne diseases and rodent infestation, the FEHD will intensify district rodent prevention and control work by conducting a two-month anti-rodent operation in designated target areas commencing on May 8. The operation will adopt multi-pronged strategies, including cleaning, rodent disinfestation and enforcement action, to combat the rodent problem."
 
     Each District Environmental Hygiene Office of the FEHD will take into account factors including rodent infestation rates, the number of rodent complaints received, views of the local community, the number of food premises and "three-nil" buildings in identifying a designated target area (covering a few thoroughfares) in each district to carry out targeted anti-rodent operations.
      
     "FEHD staff will enhance street cleaning services and cleaning of public markets and hawker bazaars in the target areas, including sweeping and cleaning of streets and rear lanes, clearing refuse and waste, emptying and cleaning of litter containers, and clearance of miscellaneous articles and waste in public markets and hawker bazaars, so as to keep the environment clean," the spokesman said.
      
     "We will also strengthen rodent disinfestation work at problematic spots such as rear lanes, refuse collection points, markets, hawker bazaars, cooked food markets and construction sites by placing poisonous baits and traps, destroying rat holes and putting in place additional rodent-proofing measures. 
      
     "In addition, we will step up inspections of food premises. Enforcement actions against food premises causing poor environmental hygiene conditions, scullery and food preparation at rear lanes, and improper handling and disposal of rubbish will be strengthened. We will also adopt a zero-tolerance approach against common public cleanliness offences and take stringent enforcement actions against illegal disposal of refuse and waste."
      
     The spokesman stressed that sustaining the effectiveness of rodent prevention and control work hinges on active participation of the community. The FEHD will enhance public education and publicity to raise the public awareness of rodent prevention and control and encourage the participation of members of the public in the fight against rodent infestation.
      
     "To prevent rodent infestation effectively, it is important to tackle the problem at its root by eliminating the three survival conditions of rodents, namely food, harbourage and passages, meaning the elimination of food sources and hiding places of rodents, as well as blockage of their passages," he said.
      
     Apart from the broadcast of TV and radio Announcements in the Public Interest and display of posters on public transport, the FEHD will collaborate with District Councils and District Offices of the Home Affairs Department to organise community activities and distribute leaflets to widely disseminate the anti-rodent messages. The department will also arrange health talks for building management offices of private buildings, persons-in-charge of food premises, and market and hawker stall operators to provide information and technical advice on rodent prevention and control.
      
     The spokesman called on the community and relevant government departments to actively participate in the anti-rodent campaign and work together for a clean and hygienic community.

Ends/Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Issued at HKT 16:00

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