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The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has mounted a special operation against littering arising from feeding of wild birds in public places.
This is part of the Government's stepped-up efforts to protect public health in the wake of the avian influenza outbreaks in neighbouring regions.
A spokesman for the department said today (February 7) that strict enforcement action was necessary to remind the public of the importance of keeping a clean environment by not feeding wild birds and pigeons.
He said the department would deploy more staff, both plain clothes and uniform, to blackspots where bird feeding was common. People found dirtying public places while feeding feral birds are liable to a fixed-penalty fine of $1,500.
"Posters informing the public of the penalty and the potential risk of contracting avian-related diseases through bird feeding have been put up at prominent locations throughout the territory.
"Notices warning against wild-bird feeding have also been put up at blackspots for bird feeding, including the sitting-out areas in Leighton Road, Causeway Bay and the flagstaffs near the Star Ferry concourse in Tsim Sha Tsui.
"We have also increased the frequency of clean-ups at those spots to twice daily to remove bird faeces and stains left on the street," the spokesman said.
The spokesman warned that as well as polluting the environment, feeding wild birds posed the risk of contracting bird-related diseases.
"The droppings of feral birds may carry harmful germs. The safest and most effective, economical and humane way to minimise congregation of pigeons is to avoid feeding the birds," he added.
Since the enforcement of the $1,500 fixed penalty against littering arising from feeding of wild birds on October 2 last year, the department has issued 41 fixed-penalty notices against such offenders.
Ends/Saturday, February 7, 2004
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