The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (August 15) said as the epidemic situation remains severe, to safeguard the health and safety of market stall tenants and the public, the FEHD will continue to progressively arrange deep cleaning and disinfection for public markets as a precautionary measure.

     A spokesman for the FEHD said, "With the full support of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD), body temperature checking system has been installed in 30 markets with high patronage rate. To further enhance the anti-epidemic measures, we will progressively install body temperature checking system in other markets with high patronage rate and has arranged for checking of body temperature of market patrons by FEHD staff using hand-held thermometers in some markets."

     The spokesman said, "The FEHD is also liaising with the EMSD to improve the air ventilation in some markets, and standalone air coolers will be placed in some of the markets in regard to circumstances on the ground. 

     "In addition, to enhance the effectiveness of epidemic prevention, the FEHD has progressively installed automatic dispensers in toilets in markets, and sensor-type toilet seat sanitisers in toilet cubicles. Starting from end August, anti-microbial coating will be applied to the communal areas and facilities of more than 40 markets with high patronage rate in phases."

     To further enhance the cleaning and disinfection work in its markets, following the previous arrangement for some 40 markets to close an hour earlier for additional deep cleaning and disinfection in the past few weeks, the FEHD will arrange for the following 12 public markets on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon and the New Territories to be closed an hour earlier at 7pm for deep cleaning and disinfection in the coming few days as a precautionary measure:

August 16 (Sunday)
Tang Lung Chau Market
North Point Market
Lei Yue Mun Market
North Kwai Chung Market

August 17 (Monday)
Aldrich Bay Market
Mui Wo Market
Yee On Street Market
Sai Kung Market

August 18 (Tuesday)
Quarry Bay Market
Peng Chau Market
Tung Chau Street Temporary Market
Hung Shui Kiu Temporary Market

     During the period, the FEHD staff will thoroughly clean and disinfect communal areas and facilities in the markets, and call for co-operation of market tenants to conduct cleaning and disinfection at their respective stalls, with a view to improving the overall hygiene condition of the markets. In addition, the FEHD will carry out deep cleaning work on the periphery of the markets and nearby streets. The cleaning and disinfection work is expected to last about four hours.

     The spokesman said that the FEHD has attached importance to the hygienic condition of public markets. In addition to regular cleaning work in the daytime, market service contractors also conduct thorough cleaning in all markets after the markets are closed every day. During the epidemic, the FEHD has already stepped up cleaning and disinfection of communal areas and facilities in the markets, including toilets, escalators, elevators and stair handrails, with diluted household bleach regularly every day. Disinfectant hand sanitisers are also placed at market areas for public use.

     The department has also enhanced anti-rodent measures in some markets, including conducting a three-month intensive anti-rodent operation, during which market staff will thoroughly clear the refuse and clean the passageways and drains in the markets every night after the markets are closed so as to eliminate the food sources of rodents. Plentiful traps are also placed in market areas extensively in the small hours in order to strengthen rodent control.

     In addition, the FEHD earlier issued advisory letters to its market tenants reminding them and their staff to wear face masks in markets and perform hand hygiene frequently, and has subsequently distributed face masks and disinfectant hand sanitisers to market tenants. Disinfectant hand sanitisers are also placed at communal parts such as vicinities of lift lobbies, escalators and public scales for use by market patrons so as to safeguard the health and safety of tenants and the public.

     The FEHD will closely monitor the situation of its markets and conduct enhanced cleaning and disinfection work as a precautionary measure when necessary so as to maintain environmental hygiene and safeguard the health and safety of tenants and the public.

Ends/Saturday, August 15, 2020
Issued at HKT 11:00

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