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The Housing Department(HD) will fence off open space vulnerable to the stay of wild House Crows at Lai On Estate in Sham Shui Po for thorough disinfection following a suspected case of H5 avian influenza after preliminary test of a House Crow found dead in the estate earlier this week.
"The number of wild House Crows congregating in the area has dropped by half from over 400 to 200 during the last six months following the introduction of a series of specific measures to reduce the nuisances caused by wild birds in public rental housing (PRH) estates," the Assistant Director of Housing (Estate Management), Mr. Lai Ip-cheung, said today (23rd February).
These measures include trimming overgrown trees, playing sound devices, deploying security guards to point torches at trees or using other methods of illumination, placing bait on roof-tops of housing blocks and banning the tree trunks with wooden plank to frighten away the wild birds.
Over the past two weeks, Mr. Lai said, the Housing Department (HD) had detected 122 dead birds at PRH estates. Staff from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department collected them for further tests.
"While the measures taken so far have proved effective, there is no room for complacency," Mr. Lai said, adding that HD has enhanced efforts to keep the problem of wild birds at bay.
"Cleansing contractors have increased the frequency of clean-ups and disinfection of open space frequented by wild birds or house crows to three or four times daily to remove bird faeces and stains.
"The contractors have also been requested to clean and disinfect the press buttons of security doors and lifts in PRH blocks three times a day," Mr. Lai said.
The department has also stepped up cleansing operations at PRH estates through "Operation Tai Ping Tei" to encourage community participation in clean-up operations.
On public education, HD has distributed pamphlets and newsletters against improper bird feeding and warnings on the risk of contracting bird-related diseases when feeding wild birds to all public rental households.
Conspicuous notices informing tenants of the penalty have been displayed at prominent locations throughout the PRH estates. Rolling text with message to remind tenants not to feed feral birds or pigeons is being broadcasted on the Housing Channel
Mr. Lai noted that the most effective way to deal with feral bird nuisances was to avoid feeding these birds to prevent the birds congregating and roosting near the housing blocks.
"The food remnants and bird droppings will affect hygiene. It may cause disease spreading, affecting public health," he added.
Mr. Lai reminded PRH tenants that bird feeders would be served a $1,500 fixed penalty notice and five penalty points under the Marking Scheme for Tenancy Enforcement when caught.
As at the end of January this year, ten offenders have been served with fixed penalty notices for feeding feral birds in PRH estates. They will be allotted penalty points following confirmation of their PRH tenant identities.
He urged PRH tenants to observe personal hygiene and to wash their hands thoroughly in case of having contacted birds, their droppings or secretions after contact with live birds.
Ends/Thursday, February 23, 2006
Issued at HKT 19:34
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