The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (July 25) said that in view of the recent severe epidemic situation, to safeguard the health and safety of market stall tenants and the public, the FEHD has further enhanced the anti-epidemic measures in its markets, including the installation of body temperature checking system in markets with high patronage rate for monitoring the body temperature of people entering the markets. In addition, the FEHD will progressively arrange for 12 public markets to be closed an hour earlier for deep cleaning and disinfection in the coming few days as a precautionary measure.

     A spokesman for the FEHD said, "To further enhance the anti-epidemic measures, the FEHD, with the full support of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD), has completed on July 24 the first phase of the installation of the body temperature checking system in six of its markets in Kowloon with high patronage rate, namely Ngau Chi Wan Market, Ngau Tau Kok Market, Hung Hom Market, Pei Ho Street Market, Tai Shing Street Market and Tai Kok Tsui Market, for monitoring the body temperature of people entering the markets."

     The spokesman added, "We will progressively install the system in other markets with high patronage rate, and has arranged for checking of body temperature of market patrons by FEHD staff using hand-held thermometers in some markets so as to enhance the effectiveness of epidemic prevention."

     To further enhance the cleaning and disinfection work in its markets, following the closure of 12 public markets in Kowloon an hour earlier for additional deep cleaning and disinfection last week, the FEHD will arrange for the following 12 public markets on Hong Kong Island and in the New Territories to be closed an hour earlier at 7pm for deep cleaning and disinfection in the coming few days as a precautionary measure:

July 26 (Sunday)
Smithfield Market
Yue Wan Market
Tai Po Hui Market
Shek Wu Hui Market

July 27 (Monday)
Sai Ying Pun Market
Centre Street Market
Tai Kiu Market
Yeung Uk Road Market

July 28 (Tuesday):
Aberdeen Market
Wan Chai Market
Sha Tin Market
Tsuen Wan Market

     During the period, the FEHD staff will thoroughly clean and disinfect communal areas and facilities in the markets, and call for cooperation of market tenants to conduct cleaning and disinfection at their respective stalls, with a view to improving the overall hygiene condition of the markets. In addition, the FEHD will carry out deep cleaning work on the periphery of the markets and nearby streets. The cleaning and disinfection work is expected to last about four hours.

     The spokesman said that the FEHD has attached importance to the hygienic condition of public markets. In addition to regular cleaning work in the daytime, market service contractors also conduct thorough cleaning in all markets after the markets are closed every day. During the epidemic, the FEHD has already stepped up cleaning and disinfection of communal areas and facilities in the markets, including toilets, escalators, elevators and stair handrails, with diluted household bleach regularly every day. Disinfectant hand sanitisers are also placed at market areas for public use. Furthermore, the FEHD has liaised with the EMSD to improve the air ventilation in the markets as far as practicable. 

     In addition, the FEHD earlier issued advisory letters to its market tenants reminding them and their staff to wear face masks in markets and perform hand hygiene frequently, and has subsequently distributed face masks and disinfectant hand sanitisers to market tenants. Disinfectant hand sanitisers are also placed at communal parts such as vicinities of lift lobbies, escalators and public scales for use by market patrons so as to safeguard the health and safety of tenants and the public.  

     The FEHD will closely monitor the situation of its markets and conduct enhanced cleaning and disinfection work as a precautionary measure when necessary so as to maintain environmental hygiene and safeguard the health and safety of tenants and the public.

Ends/Saturday, July 25, 2020
Issued at HKT 16:55

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