LCQ9: Feeding of birds by members of public
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Question:
I have often received complaints from members of the public that due to regular feeding by some people, large numbers of birds often congregate in certain public places, which causes noise and public hygiene problems as well as increases the risk of diseases being transmitted from birds to humans. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of (i) the number of reports received by the authorities in each of the past three years on bird carcasses found in public places, and (ii) the number of cases in which such bird carcasses were tested positive to avian influenza virus, with a breakdown by District Council (DC) district;
(2) of the number of complaints received by the authorities in each of the past three years about people feeding birds in public places, with a breakdown by DC district;
(3) whether the authorities will step up the cleansing and disinfection of bird-feeding black spots, so as to reduce the risk of diseases being transmitted from birds to humans; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(4) as persons dirtying public places by feeding birds may be prosecuted, whether the authorities will consider installing closed-circuit television cameras at bird-feeding black spots and deploying additional staff to patrol such places, so as to step up law enforcement efforts; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(5) whether currently there is any legislation which directly prohibits the acts of feeding birds in public places; if so, of the details; if not, whether it will consider enacting such legislation?
Reply:
President,
My reply to the Member's question is as follows:
(1) The number of reports on dead wild birds received by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, and the total number of detected cases of avian influenza (AI) viruses in relevant carcasses over the past three years are tabulated below:
| Year | Number of reports on dead wild birds received | Total number of detected cases of AI viruses in dead birds |
| 2015-16 | 9,222 | 6* |
| 2016-17 | 9,306 | 0 |
| 2017-18 | 10,007 | 4# |
Remarks:
* In Yuen Long, Sai Kung, Kwai Tsing, Wong Tai Sin, Tuen Mun and Islands.
# In Kowloon City, Sai Kung and Yuen Long.
(2) The numbers of complaints received by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) over the past three years on feeding of birds causing dirtiness to public places by members of the public are as follows:
| District | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central & Western | 51 | 41 | 45 |
| Wan Chai | 35 | 37 | 61 |
| Eastern | 47 | 51 | 53 |
| Southern | 17 | 28 | 19 |
| Islands | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| Yau Tsim Mong | 28 | 30 | 53 |
| Sham Shui Po | 29 | 51 | 47 |
| Kowloon City | 28 | 12 | 28 |
| Wong Tai Sin | 4 | 9 | 11 |
| Kwun Tong | 16 | 22 | 20 |
| Kwai Tsing | 4 | 6 | 14 |
| Tsuen Wan | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Tuen Mun | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Yuen Long | 20 | 21 | 42 |
| North | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Tai Po | 14 | 12 | 11 |
| Sha Tin | 8 | 20 | 23 |
| Sai Kung | 16 | 23 | 30 |
| Total | 324 | 372 | 478 |
(3) Apart from providing routine street sweeping and washing services, FEHD also increases the frequency of street washing and disinfection with 1:99 diluted bleach solution at places where wild birds congregate as appropriate, so as to ensure environmental hygiene and street cleanliness.
(4) FEHD launched a six-month pilot scheme on installation of Internet Protocol (IP) cameras in late December 2016, under which IP cameras were installed at a total of six illegal refuse dumping blackspots in Central and Western, Sham Shui Po and Yuen Long districts, to step up surveillance on illegal dumping of refuse and to facilitate the planning of more effective law enforcement actions. Given the encouraging result, in consultation with District Councils, FEHD decided to extend the pilot scheme to all districts progressively on a trial basis for one year and start to install IP cameras at some illegal refuse dumping blackspots, including feral bird feeding blackspots, in the second quarter of 2018.
In addition, since mid-2017, FEHD has set up six dedicated enforcement teams (DETs), primarily to step up enforcement action against various public cleanliness offences, including bird feeders who dirty public places. FEHD will set up additional DETs in 2018-19 to strengthen law enforcement work in relevant respects.
(5) There is no legislation which regulates bird feeding at present. However, people dirtying public places by feeding birds, e.g. leaving the feed behind on the ground, will contravene section 4(1) of the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation (Cap. 132BK). FEHD officers can take enforcement actions against the offenders.
Ends/Wednesday, April 25, 2018
Issued at HKT 11:25
Issued at HKT 11:25
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