The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will launch the second round of the two-month anti-rodent operation in designated target areas in various districts on September 11 to enhance the effectiveness of rodent prevention and control work at the district level and boost public support and participation in the anti-rodent work.

     An FEHD spokesman said, "The FEHD has always been concerned about rodent infestation in the districts. In view of the fruitful results of the first round of the anti-rodent operation in designated target areas held in May, the FEHD will conduct another two-month anti-rodent operation in designated target areas on September 11, immediately after the second phase of the territory-wide anti-rodent campaign which will end on September 8, to intensify the district rodent prevention and control work."

     Each District Environmental Hygiene Office of the FEHD, taking 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, will identify another target area (covering a few thoroughfares) in each district and continue to adopt multi-pronged strategies, including improving environmental hygiene, rodent disinfestation and enforcement action for carrying 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 installing 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 said he hoped that through the public's sustained participation in anti-rodent campaigns, their awareness of rodent prevention and control will be raised, and with their support for the FEHD's anti-rodent operations, the overall effectiveness of rodent prevention and control work will be enhanced.

     He said, "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 dispersal routes."

     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 anti-rodent promotional activities. 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 to actively participate in the anti-rodent campaign and work together for a clean and hygienic community.

Ends/Monday, September 4, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:47

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