FEHD anti-rodent operation in designated target areas concluded with fruitful results
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An FEHD spokesman said, "The FEHD launched a two-month anti-rodent operation in designated target areas on May 8, and adopted multi-pronged strategies, including stepping up rodent disinfestation work, cleaning services and enforcement action in designated target areas, to combat the rodent problem. In the past two months, the FEHD strengthened rodent disinfestation work at problematic spots such as rear lanes, refuse collection points, markets, hawker bazaars, cooked food markets and construction sites. The department placed poisonous baits and traps at 4 976 and 10 984 locations respectively, and destroyed 270 rat holes, with 667 dead rodents collected and 520 rodents caught in traps.
"Apart from strengthening rodent elimination work, FEHD staff members also enhanced street cleaning services and cleaning of public markets and hawker bazaars in the target areas, including sweeping and cleaning of streets and rear lanes, and clearance of refuse and waste on the streets, in public markets and at hawker bazaars, so as to keep the environment clean.
"In addition, the FEHD stepped up inspections of food premises, markets, hawker bazaars and cooked food markets. Enforcement action against food premises causing poor environmental hygiene conditions, food preparation and scullery at rear lanes and improper handling and disposal of rubbish were strengthened. The FEHD conducted 6 173 inspections and issued 3 203 health advisories, 1 680 verbal warnings and 34 warning letters, and took out 312 prosecutions in the past two months."
To increase public awareness of rodent prevention, the FEHD stepped up public education and publicity during the operation. Two hundred and four health talks were arranged for building management offices of private buildings, persons-in-charge of food premises and market and hawker stall operators to provide information and technical advice on rodent prevention and control.
The spokesman stressed that although the anti-rodent special operation has ended, the FEHD will spare no efforts in continuing the rodent prevention and control work. Following the commencement of the second phase of the anti-rodent campaign, which will last for 10 weeks, on July 3, he called on all sectors of the community to continue to actively participate in the anti-rodent campaign and take actions in daily life to eliminate the three survival conditions of rodents, namely food, harbourage and passages, meaning the elimination of the food sources and hiding places of rodents as well as blocking their passages, so as to work together for a clean and hygienic community.
Ends/Friday, July 14, 2017
Issued at HKT 15:20
Issued at HKT 15:20
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