To tie in with the tradition of cleaning up before the Lunar New Year, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (January 18) commenced a year-end clean-up campaign across the territory, and appealed to the public for active participation and efforts to maintain cleanliness in the household, the community and public places to welcome the Year of the Ox.

     An FEHD spokesman said, "In light of the ongoing pandemic, the FEHD has launched a two-week stepped-up year-end clean-up campaign from January 4 to enhance street cleaning operations at complaint hotspots in all districts, combat illegal acts of shop front extension, and strengthen rodent prevention and control work. To consolidate the efforts of keeping Hong Kong clean and containing the pandemic, the year-end clean-up campaign has been launched today aiming to maintain a clean and hygienic environment."

     During the campaign period, the FEHD will step up the cleaning of public facilities under the department's management including markets, cooked food centres, hawker bazaars, public toilets and refuse collection points. Cleaning of problematic sites of illegal refuse dumping and other public cleanliness offences will also be enhanced. In addition, the FEHD will conduct mosquito and rodent prevention and control operations targeting places such as old tenement buildings, streets, rear lanes, village houses and construction sites, according to each district's circumstances. Temporary junk collection points will also be set up for residents to discard large items of household waste.

     In addition, FEHD staff will step up inspection, cleaning and disinfection of communal areas and facilities in the markets, and remind stall tenants to clean up their stalls thoroughly. Cleaning as well as refuse and bulky waste collection services at the refuse collection points in all districts will also be enhanced.

     The spokesman added that to ensure the cleanliness of public places, the department will continue to strengthen enforcement action and issue fixed penalty notices to offenders in breach of the public cleanliness and obstruction regulation.

     The department's dedicated thematic website will showcase the efforts and work of the year-end clean-up campaign. Regular updates of the work will be reported. Meanwhile, the website has also provided useful information and advice on environmental hygiene for gaining public collaboration and understanding. For more information, please visit the FEHD website: www.fehd.gov.hk.

     The spokesman stressed that maintaining a clean and hygienic community hinges on the co-operation and active participation of everyone. He called for the concerted efforts of every member of the public to maintain environmental hygiene and enjoy a clean environment in the coming Lunar New Year.

Ends/Monday, January 18, 2021
Issued at HKT 17:10

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