FEHD to launch anti-rodent operation in designated target areas next week

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will launch the first round of a two-month anti-rodent operation in designated target areas in various districts on May 6 to sustain the effectiveness of rodent prevention and control work at the district level and raise public awareness of rodent prevention and control.
     
     An FEHD spokesman said today (April 30), "The FEHD attaches great importance to rodent prevention and control work. In addition to the two phases of the territory-wide anti-rodent campaign conducted annually, the FEHD has since 2017 conducted two rounds of anti-rodent special operations in designated target areas between the two phases of anti-rodent campaign.
 
     The spokesman said, "This year, the first round of the two-month special operation will be launched on May 6. Each District Environmental Hygiene Office of the FEHD, taking into account factors including rodent infestation rates, the number of rodent complaints received, views of the local community, the number of food premises and 'three-nil' buildings, will identify target areas in each district and continue to adopt multi-pronged strategies including improving environmental hygiene and stepping up rodent disinfestation and enforcement actions, for carrying out targeted rodent prevent and control work.
     
     "FEHD staff will enhance 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 refuse and waste on the streets, in public markets and at hawker bazaars, so as to keep the environment clean.
     
     "We will also strengthen rodent prevention and control work at problematic spots such as rear lanes, refuse collection points, markets, hawker bazaars, cooked food markets and peripheral areas of construction sites by placing poisonous baits and traps, destroying rat holes and implementing rodent-proofing measures.
 
     "Furthermore, inspections of food premises will be stepped up. Enforcement actions against food premises causing poor environmental hygiene conditions, scullery and food preparation at rear lanes, and improper handling and disposal of rubbish will be strengthened. We will also adopt a zero-tolerance approach against common public cleanliness offences and take stringent enforcement actions against illegal disposal of refuse and waste."
     
     The FEHD will also strengthen public education and publicity. Apart from the broadcast of TV and radio announcements in the public interest and display of posters on public transport, the FEHD will collaborate with District Councils and District Offices of the Home Affairs Department to organise anti-rodent promotional activities. The department will also arrange 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.
     
     The spokesman appealed to the community for active participation as well as joint efforts to eliminate the three fundamental 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, so as to combat the rodent problem.