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Following is a question by the Hon James Tien and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (May 23):
Question:
It has been reported that the Sai Kung District Lands Office admitted that while it had been notified by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department in mid-February this year of the suspected presence of red fire ants on the government land in Area 65 of Tseung Kwan O, it was not until April 18, this year that the authorities formally sent staff to eradicate the red fire ants. As a result, the situation had deteriorated, in that the number of red fire ant mounds has increased from several dozens to several thousands. Regarding the work on eradicating red fire ants, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the reasons for the delay in eradicating red fire ants at the above location;
(b) whether it has reviewed the communication and cooperation between government departments in eradicating ants; if so, of the outcome of the review; if not, the reasons for that; and;
(c) how the Government ensures the eradication of all red fire ants in Tseung Kwan O district, and monitors whether red fire ants are present in various districts in the New Territories?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) To tackle the problem of suspected red fire ants on the government land in Area 65 of Tseung Kwan O, the District Lands Office/Sai Kung (DLO/SK) instructed its contractor to conduct eradication and devegetation work. Given the extensive area of the site involved, the work could not be completed within a short space of time. Additional manpower was subsequently deployed by DLO/SK to complete the eradication work on the site and in the neighbouring areas, involving a total area of 31 hectares. DLO/SK has now stepped up inspections on red fire ants, conducting regular inspections on vacant Government land in the Tseung Kwan O and Hang Hau areas.
(b) The Health, Welfare and Food Bureau set up an inter-departmental action group to effectively coordinate the control and prevention of red fire ants after they were first detected in 2005. The action group comprises members from various government departments and relevant agencies, including the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD); Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD); Department of Health; Housing Department; Leisure and Cultural Services Department; Highways Department; Civil Engineering and Development Department; Lands Department; Home Affairs Department; Architectural Services Department; Education and Manpower Bureau; Environmental Protection Department; Environment, Transport and Works Bureau; Information Services Department; and Airport Authority. The action group has sought full cooperation from the government departments, which are tasked to inspect the venues and premises under their respective purview and take prompt action to eradicate red fire ant mounds, with reference to the technical note on red imported fire ant control methods issued by the AFCD.
In respect of the red fire ant incident at issue, the government departments concerned have reviewed the experience gained and adopted measures to strengthen communication and efficacy of their work, and conducted checks at the venues and premises under their purview as well as follow up inspections at sites where red fire ant mounds had previously been found. The departments concerned will also submit a working report on the control and prevention of red fire ants to the AFCD every three months.
As regards technical support, the AFCD will discuss with the departments concerned the tactics on control and prevention against red fire ants having regard to the scale of red ant infestation. The AFCD will also organise technical seminars on the control and prevention of red fire ants for government departments, their contractors and pesticide application service providers to advise them on the latest methods for pesticide application and mound treatment, so as to help departments eradicate the infestation expeditiously.
(c) The relevant departments and contractors for District Lands Offices have held working meetings on the case at issue, to explore ways to enhance the efficacy of ant eradication work and to draw up future plans for control and eradication of ants. These include regular inspections and devegetation on vacant government land in areas including Tseung Kwan O and Hang Hau, after the completion of ant eradication work. Suspected ant mounds would be treated immediately upon discovery. Where necessary, the District Lands Offices may seek the professional advice of the AFCD.
Red fire ants would be found occasionally in Hong Kong. To control red fire ant problem in Tseung Kwan O as well as other districts, the AFCD has held seminars for the government departments concerned, their contractors and owners' corporations on the proper ways to eradicate red fire ants. It has also distributed leaflets and posters on ways to handle red fire ant problems in these districts, offering advice on the control and prevention techniques where necessary. Moreover, the Government will also continue to step up public education through the websites of AFCD, Department of Health and FEHD, Announcements in the Public Interests and posters and publicity leaflets, so as to keep the public alert and solicit their help in monitoring the presence of these ants. As mentioned in paragraph (2) above, the departments concerned will also conduct follow up inspections at sites where ant mounds had been found previously, in addition to inspecting and carrying out control and prevention measures against red fire ants in the venues and premises under their purview. Red fire ant mounds will be eradicated as soon as possible upon discovery.
Ends/Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Issued at HKT 12:25
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