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The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will launch the four-week promotional phase of the Anti-rodent Campaign 2008 on Monday (January 7).
During the campaign period, relevant departments will step up rodent prevention and control operations and related publicity activities.
¡§All market buildings in the territory will be the target areas of the campaign,¡¨ the FEHD¡¦s Pest Control Officer-in-charge, Mr Yuen Ming-chi, said today (January 4).
¡§Poor environmental hygiene and structural defects of buildings can influence the degree of rodent infestation inside the market buildings and their peripheries.¡¨
He urged the public and market stall operators to continue their efforts on rodent control and take preventive measures including keeping the environment clean, leaving no food for rodents, clearing away refuse and disused articles in the communal areas of buildings, and repairing any holes or crevices in ceilings, walls or floors.
¡§Although the rodent infestation rate (RIR) rose from 2.9 in 2006 to 4.8 in 2007, the rodent problem is not serious in the territory on the whole. However, there should be no slackening in rodent prevention,¡¨ Mr Yuen warned.
Public and government agencies participating in the campaign include the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Architectural Services Department, Buildings Department, Correctional Services Department, Drainage Services Department, Environmental Protection Department, Government Logistics Department, Highways Department, Department of Health, Home Affairs Department, Housing Department, Immigration Department, Labour Department, Lands Department, Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Marine Department, Social Welfare Department, Water Supplies Department, the Education Bureau and the Hospital Authority.
The FEHD will carry out extensive anti-rodent publicity activities, including the display of banners and posters, distribution of leaflets, broadcasting of TV announcement of public interest, and organising an anti-rodent game competition for users of public markets.
For further information on anti-rodent measures, please visit the FEHD¡¦s webpage www.fehd.gov.hk or call its hotline at 2868 0000.
Ends/Friday, January 4, 2008
Issued at HKT 15:29
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