*******************************************************
The Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Mrs Carrie Ya, today (February 14) inspected year-end clean-up activities in Kowloon City which were part of the three-week major clean-up campaign organised by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department with the advent of the Year of Pig.
Mrs Yau visited the rear lane at Sheung Heung Road where she saw the anti-mosquito and anti-rodent operations. She learned that the rodent infestation rate and mosquito problems in the district had improved and she encouraged the staff to continue to work hard for environmental hygiene.
She then toured the To Kwa Wan Market and reminded tenants and market-goers to keep the environment clean and observe personal and public hygiene.
Noting that it was the Chinese tradition to have a clean-up before the Lunar New Year, Mrs Yau called on people to take concerted action to keep the environment clean and maintain a pleasant living environment.
"Global warming might lead to a more intense breeding of viruses. To guard against avian influenza and SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), people should stay alert and always pay attention to personal and environmental hygiene.
"Good personal and environmental hygiene is important in the prevention of diseases and we need everybody's co-operation and participation," she said.
Mrs Yau reminded people to clean and disinfect places with household bleach diluted in a ratio of 1 in 99 units of water and appealed to them to observe personal, public and environmental hygiene.
She added that people should be cautious in using pesticides, whether it was at home or in public places. They should follow the instructions printed on the labels and not apply pesticides excessively.
"To sustain our efforts to keep Hong Kong clean, community involvement is the driving force of sustained environmental hygiene improvements. Everyone has a role to play in this regard," she said.
On environmental hygiene, the Government has devoted about $1.5 billion in 2006-07 on public cleaning services such as street cleaning, cleaning and maintaining public toilets. Another $400 million is used on pest control.
Ends/Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:54
NNNN
