First round of FEHD anti-rodent operation in designated target areas concludes with positive results

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) concluded the first round of the anti-rodent operation in designated target areas in various districts on June 22. During the operation, the FEHD collected 630 dead rodents, caught 476 rodents in traps and took out 374 prosecutions. The operation effectively enhanced rodent prevention and control work at the district level.
      
     An FEHD spokesman said today (June 28), "The FEHD launched the first round of the two-month anti-rodent operation in designated target areas on April 23 and adopted multi-pronged strategies, including improving environmental hygiene rodent disinfestation and enforcement actions, 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 bait and traps at 5 350 and 8 459 locations respectively, and destroyed 343 rat holes, with 630 dead rodents collected and 476 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 was strengthened. The FEHD conducted 13 916 inspections, issued 3 830 health advisories, 2 069 verbal warnings and 25 warning letters, 52 statutory notices, 619 fixed penalty notices and took out 374 prosecutions."
      
     To increase public awareness of rodent prevention, the FEHD stepped up public education and publicity during the operation. A total of 113 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 said that the FEHD will spare no efforts in the rodent prevention and control work. The second phase of the territory-wide anti-rodent campaign, lasting for 10 weeks, will soon commence on July 2. He called on all sectors of the community to continue to actively participate in the anti-rodent campaign and eliminate the three survival conditions of rodents in their daily life, namely food, harbourage and passages, meaning the elimination of the food sources and hiding places of rodents as well as blocking their dispersal routes, so as to work together for a clean and hygienic community.