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Following is a question by the Hon Kwok Wai-keung and a written reply by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, in the Legislative Council today (May 20):
Question:
It is noted that a number of District Councils (DCs) have received complaints from members of the public about the congregation of wild pigeons in their districts causing not only environmental hygiene problems but also the risk of spreading diseases. However, due to the lack of effective government measures at present, the number of wild pigeons has shown signs of increase. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the number of complaints referred in each of the past five years to the authorities by DCs about wild pigeons causing environmental hygiene problems, with a breakdown by DC district; how the authorities handled such complaints; of the measures currently in place to deal with the relevant environmental hygiene problems;
(2) whether it studied, in the past three years, the reasons why wild pigeons congregate in densely-populated areas; if it did, of the findings of the study; if not, the reasons for that; of the current number and locations of the spots where wild pigeons congregate; whether the authorities will draw up a list of black spots of wild pigeon congregation and formulate corresponding measures to reduce the impact of wild pigeons on the local community; if they will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(3) whether the authorities monitored, in the past five years, the number of wild pigeons; if they did, of the number each year; whether the number of wild pigeons increased last year; if so, of the increase in the number and whether the authorities have studied the reasons for that; and
(4) of the number of persons to whom the authorities issued fixed penalty notices in each of the past five years for contravening section 4(1) (Dumping of litter in public places) of the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation (Cap. 132 sub. leg. BK) by feeding wild pigeons; whether the authorities will step up law enforcement efforts; if they will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
To address the environmental hygiene problems caused by the congregation of wild pigeons, the Government has been making appeals, through various channels, advising the public to refrain from feeding wild birds as well as pay attention to environmental hygiene as a means to avoid attracting wild pigeons. These include producing announcements of public interest, erecting warning signs against bird-feeding and distributing pamphlets to members of the public. At the same time, the Government takes enforcement actions against persons found to have dirtied public areas while feeding birds. The relevant departments also distribute publicity leaflets through the district offices of the Home Affairs Department to convey the above messages.
My reply to the question is as follows:
(1) The number of complaints received by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) from various District Councils (DCs) in the past five years about wild birds causing environmental hygiene problems, with a breakdown by DC district, is set out at Annex 1.
Upon receiving a complaint, FEHD officers will conduct site inspections, and arrange street washing and disinfection with 1:99 diluted bleach solution at places where wild birds congregate. FEHD officers will issue fixed penalty notices of $1,500 under the Fixed Penalty (Public Cleanliness Offences) Ordinance (Cap. 570) to persons found to have dirtied public areas while feeding birds. FEHD has also implemented a series of measures to reduce the nuisances caused by the feeding of wild birds, including erecting warning signs in conspicuous places at bird-feeding black spots and distributing "Don't Feed Feral Pigeons and Other Wild Birds" pamphlets to remind members of the public not to feed birds in public areas or else they may be liable to a fine. Apart from providing routine street sweeping service, FEHD also arranges daily street washing and disinfection with 1:99 diluted bleach solution at places where wild birds congregate, so as to ensure environmental hygiene and street cleanliness.
(2) and (3) Wild birds often congregate in densely-populated places, where food is readily available. This is a worldwide phenomenon which also occurs in Hong Kong. To a certain extent, the congregation of wild birds is attributable to feeding activities. Currently, there are 53 public places in the territory where wild birds congregate, as listed at Annex 2.
In addition to the public education and enforcement measures mentioned above, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has explored possible solutions to reduce the number of wild pigeons, including lending out pigeon cage traps and giving advice on how to alter building facilities to reduce the availability of perching places for wild birds. AFCD has also studied the methods adopted by other countries to reduce nuisances caused by wild pigeons, such as feeding them with oral contraceptives, installing ultrasonic bird repellers, using bird scare gas cannons, etc. Having regard to the constraints inherent in the use of this type of drugs (which include the properties of the drugs and feeding methods), and the high population density in Hong Kong, AFCD considers that these methods are not suitable for local use. It will continue to explore other appropriate and feasible solutions to reduce the number of wild pigeons.
Ultimately, one of the most effective and fundamental solutions to the nuisances caused by wild bird congregation is to stop feeding them.
Meanwhile, as a measure to put avian influenza (AI) under surveillance, AFCD has been monitoring the presence of AI virus in wild bird carcasses. In 2015, AFCD has (up to May 10) collected over 3 700 bird carcasses. Over 2 100 of them were tested for AI virus. Two dead bird samples collected in April this year tested positive to the H5N6 AI virus. Through press releases, AFCD promptly drew these two cases to public attention. As contact with infected birds is the main source of risk insofar as human infection by AI is concerned, members of the public are well advised not to touch or feed wild birds.
(4) Statistics showing the enforcement actions taken by FEHD under section 4(1) of the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation (Cap. 132BK) in each of the past five years against people dirtying public places by feeding birds (e.g. leaving the feed behind on the ground) are tabulated below:
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
No. of fixed penalty 29 68 57 91 74
notices issued
No. of prosecutions 3 7 1 4 3
by issuing summons*
* For repeat offenders, FEHD will institute prosecutions by issuing summons.
Apart from conducting regular inspections, FEHD will, in the light of the actual circumstances on the ground, mount blitz operations at the times of the day when bird-feeding activities are most prevalent and prosecute persons dirtying public places while feeding birds.
Ends/Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:45
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