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Following is a question by Cheung Hok-ming and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (May 30):
Question:
It has been reported that mounds of red fire ants were recently found near the Hong Kong Wetland Park. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the distance between the above location(s) where the mounds of red fire ants were found and the Hong Kong Wetland Park area; whether it has assessed the chance of the Wetland Park being infested with red fire ants and has taken measures to prevent their infestation; and
(b) whether it has traced the source(s) of the red fire ants found in the above location(s); if so, how it will follow up the matter; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) The red fire ant mounds found near the Hong Kong Wetland Park in Tin Shui Wai were located on government land sites (Area 112 and Area 115) to the west and south of the park, which were about several dozen metres to a hundred metres or so from the border of the park; and in the roadside planter at Wetland Park Road about 250 to 800 metres from the main entrance of the park (obliquely opposite to Vianni Cove). Upon discovery of the presence of red fire ant mounds on government land, the Yuen Long District Lands Office has taken prompt actions to eradicate the ants. Inspections on the sites will continue. As there are drains and maintenance lanes separating the government land sites and the Wetland Park, spread of red fire ants into the park has not been observed. The Wetland Park has stepped up its inspection efforts and will take prompt actions to eradicate the red fire ants once they are found.
Besides, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has also eradicated the five red fire ant mounds found in the planter mentioned above. No red fire ants have been found there ever since. The FEHD will continue to conduct inspections on venues and premises under its purview and participate in the control and prevention of red fire ants.
All government departments concerned will fully cooperate to solve the problem of red fire ant infestation. In addition to the on-going inspection of venues and premises under their purview and participation in the control and prevention work, the departments will also conduct follow-up inspections to those locations where red fire ant mounds have been found before. Ant mounds will be eliminated as soon as possible once they are detected.
(b) As the red fire ant mounds found in the planter near Wetland Park Road were just about 150 mm in diameter and 100 mm in height, they were estimated to be newly formed ones, all of which have been destroyed already. The work to eliminate red fire ants on government land sites (Area 112 and 115) has also been completed. The source of infestation cannot be ascertained.
A series of measures have been taken for the effective control of red fire ant infestation. These include an inter-departmental action group being set up to coordinate the control work undertaken by government departments after red fire ants were first detected in 2005. Full cooperation from the government departments has been sought to inspect the venues and premises under their respective purview and take part in the control and prevention work. They will also conduct follow-up inspections to those locations where red fire ant mounds have been found before, and eliminating them once they are found. In addition, they will submit a quarterly report on the control and prevention of red fire ants to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD).
As red fire ants are occasionally found in Hong Kong, the AFCD will organise talks on the proper eradication methods of ants in infested areas and, where necessary, offer technical advice on control and prevention. In addition, the Government continues to strengthen public education to keep the public alert and solicit their help in monitoring the presence of red fire ants.
Ends/Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Issued at HKT 14:23
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