The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) launched the second round of the two-month anti-rodent operation in designated target areas in various districts to enhance the effectiveness of rodent prevention and control work at the district level.
 
     An FEHD spokesman said today (November 15), "The FEHD is conducting two rounds of the anti-rodent operation in designated target areas again this year. The second round operation started on October 8, adopting multi-pronged strategies including improving environmental hygiene and stepping up rodent disinfestation and enforcement actions to combat the rodent problem. During the operation, the FEHD has strengthened district rodent disinfestation work at problematic spots including rear lanes, refuse collection points, markets, hawker bazaars, cooked food markets and peripheral areas of construction sites. In the past month, as at November 7, the FEHD placed poisonous bait at 6 417 locations and placed 6 703 traps, and destroyed 240 rat holes, with 465 dead rodents collected and 409 rodents caught in traps.
 
     "The FEHD has also stepped up inspections of food premises, markets, hawker bazaars and cooked food markets. Enforcement action against food premises causing poor environmental hygiene conditions, scullery and food preparation at rear lanes, and improper handling and disposal of rubbish have been strengthened. As at November 7, the FEHD conducted 8 169 inspections and issued 1 447 health advisories, 591 verbal warnings, 21 warning letters, 341 fixed penalty notices and took out 120 prosecutions.
 
     "In addition, FEHD staff have 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 clearing of refuse and waste on the streets, in public markets and at hawker bazaars, so as to keep the environment clean."
 
     The spokesman stressed that effective rodent prevention and control hinges on the active participation of the community. The FEHD has stepped up public education and publicity during the operation and arranged 92 health talks 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.
 
     He called on members of the public to continue to support and participate in the anti-rodent campaign and remember to eliminate the three survival conditions of rodents, namely food, harbourage and passages, i.e. the elimination of the food sources and hiding places of rodents, as well as blockage of their dispersal routes.

     Hongkong Post announced today (November 15) that, as advised by the postal administration of Canada, mail operations in Canada have been affected by union action of the postal workers. Mail acceptance has ceased. Hongkong Post has suspended all postal services to Canada with immediate effect until further notice.
 

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, November 15, 2018 is 105.7 (down 0.2 against yesterday's index).

     The Transport Department today (November 15) announced that two auctions of traditional vehicle registration marks will be held on December 1 (Saturday) and 2 (Sunday), in Meeting Room S421, L4, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai.
 
     "A total of 300 vehicle registration marks will be put up for public sale at each auction. The lists of marks have been posted at the department's website, www.td.gov.hk," a department spokesman said.
 
     Applicants who have paid a deposit of $1,000 to reserve a mark for auction should also participate in the bidding (including the first bid at the reserve price of $1,000). Otherwise, the mark may be sold to another bidder at the reserve price.
 
     People who wish to participate in the bidding at the auction should take note of the following important points:
 
(a) Successful bidders are required to produce the following documents for completion of registration and payment procedures immediately after the successful bidding:
 
(i) the identity document of the successful bidder;
(ii) the identity document of the purchaser if it is different from the successful bidder;
(iii) a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation if the purchaser is a body corporate; and
(iv) a crossed cheque made payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" or "The Government of the HKSAR". (For an auctioned mark paid for by cheque, the first three working days after the date of auction will be required for cheque clearance confirmation before processing of the application for mark assignment can be completed.) Successful bidders can also pay through the Easy Pay System (EPS). Payment by post-dated cheques, cash or other methods will not be accepted.
 
(b) Purchasers must make payment of the purchase price through EPS or by crossed cheque and complete the Memorandum of Sale of Registration Mark immediately after the bidding. Subsequent alteration of the particulars in the memorandum will not be permitted.
 
(c) A vehicle registration mark can only be assigned to a motor vehicle which is registered in the name of the purchaser. The Certificate of Incorporation must be produced immediately by the purchaser if a vehicle registration mark purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.
 
(d) Special registration marks are non-transferable. Where the ownership of a motor vehicle with a special registration mark is transferred, the allocation of the special registration mark shall be cancelled.
 
(e) The purchaser shall, within 12 months after the date of auction, apply to the Commissioner for Transport for the registration mark to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. If the purchaser fails to assign the registration mark within 12 months, allocation of the mark will be cancelled and arranged for re-allocation in accordance with the statutory provision without prior notice to the purchaser.
 
     For other auction details, please refer to the Guidance Notes – Auction of Vehicle Registration Marks, which can be downloaded from the department's website, www.td.gov.hk.

     The Hong Kong Public Libraries will hold "Fun Reading at Your Neighbourhood – Pop-up Library" in various districts from mid-November to January next year. With book displays, e-book borrowing services and other activities such as story-telling and crafts workshops, members of the public can enjoy the fun of reading in the community.
 
     The Pop-up Library will display more than 250 books, including picture books and books themed on sports, science and technology for visitors to enjoy reading on the spot. Other activities will include an e-Reading experience, Ventriloquist Storytelling and Crafts Workshop, happy selfies and game booths. Upbeat, the first "young old" a cappella group under the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, has been invited to perform at the last event to convey positive energy with their voices.
 
     The Pop-up Library will appear at the following venues and times:
 
Tuen Mun Cultural Square
Date: November 18 (Sunday)
Time: 11am to 6pm
 
Fung Tak Park, Wong Tai Sin
Date: December 1 (Saturday)
Time: 11am to 6pm
 
On Tat Estate Plaza, Kwun Tong
Date: December 15 (Saturday)
Time: 11am to 6pm
 
Exhibition Hall, Sheung Wan Civic Centre
Date: January 20 (Sunday)
Time: 11am to 6pm
*A cappella performance from 3pm to 4pm
 
     Each Pop-up Library will feature Ventriloquist Storytelling and Crafts Workshop in which ventriloquists will also conduct interactive games with children. The storytelling and crafts workshops will be held from noon to 1.15pm and from 4pm to 5.15pm (only the noon session is available on January 20). Each session can enrol 15 pairs of parent and child (one child aged 4 to 12 accompanied by one carer). Interested people can register on-site 30 minutes before the session starts on a first-come, first-served basis.
 
     Admission for all activities is free and members of the public are welcome to attend. For enquiries, please visit www.hkpl.gov.hk/en/extension-activities/event-category/144063/fun-reading-at-your-neighbourhood-pop-up-library or call 2921 3599.