First round of FEHD anti-rodent operations in designated target areas achieves effective results (with photos)
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) concluded the first round of this year's anti-rodent operations in designated target areas in all districts on June 25. The operations effectively enhanced the rodent prevention and control work at the district level. During the operations, the FEHD strengthened rodent control work at problematic spots such as rear lanes, refuse collection points, markets, hawker bazaars, cooked food markets, peripheral areas of construction sites, etc. The FEHD placed poisonous baits at 6 312 locations, placed 22 646 traps and plugged 338 rat holes, with 536 dead rodents collected and 690 rodents caught in traps.
An FEHD spokesman said, "The FEHD launched the eight-week anti-rodent operations in designated target areas, with multi-pronged strategies including improving environmental hygiene and stepping up rodent disinfestation and enforcement actions to carry out targeted rodent prevention and control work in the districts. FEHD staff also enhanced street cleaning services and cleaning of public markets and hawker bazaars in the target areas including sweeping and washing of streets and rear lanes, and clearing of refuse and waste on the streets, in public markets and hawker bazaars so as to keep the environment clean.
The FEHD also stepped up public education and publicity, and arranged 137 health promotion and publicity activities for building management companies 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.
"In addition, the FEHD stepped up inspections of markets, hawker bazaars, cooked food markets and food premises. Enforcement actions especially against premises causing poor environmental hygiene conditions, food preparation and scullery at rear lanes, and improper storage of articles and illegal dumping of refuse were strengthened. During the eight-week operations, the FEHD conducted 16 158 inspections and issued 3 613 health advisories, 1 721 verbal warnings, three warning letters, 496 fixed penalty notices and took out 65 prosecutions."
The spokesman said that to optimise the effectiveness of the rodent prevention and control work, the second phase of the territory-wide anti-rodent campaign started from July 5, which would last for 10 weeks to strengthen the collaboration of departments and raise the public awareness of rodent prevention.
The FEHD increased the number of survey locations covered by the Rodent Infestation Survey (RIS) from 41 (around 2 300 baiting points) to 50 (around 2 700 baiting points) last year. The Rodent Infestation Rates in 2020 and maps of the 50 locations were uploaded to FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk/tc_chi/pestcontrol/pho
to_page/risk-pest-rodents_rir_2020.pdf) to enhance transparency and let the public have a grasp of the rodent infestation situation of individual survey locations.
The FEHD also strengthened the communication with relevant departments. For example, the detailed information at individual baiting points of the RIS was disseminated to various departments through the Government's Geospatial Information Hub platform since June so they can adopt targeted rodent prevention and control measures in a timely manner.
The FEHD attached great importance to the rodent prevention and control of the public markets. The FEHD and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department will work together to launch a pilot scheme in Yeung Uk Road Market, Tsuen Wan to deploy wireless motion sensors, rodent traps, bait boxes, etc. through the application of Internet of Things solutions, so as to step up the monitoring of rodent prevention and control work in markets, and carry out focused improvements and follow-up work.
Deputy Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Miss Diane Wong visited Tuen Mun District yesterday (July 8) to inspect the rodent prevention and control work and kick-started the community engagement activities in the district. The latest technology and equipment for rodent and mosquito control were introduced to the representatives of district personalities and the public through exhibitions and briefings.
The spokesman said that the FEHD would continue its efforts in rodent prevention and control. He called on all sectors of the community to continue to participate in the campaign and eliminate the three fundamental survival conditions of rodents in their daily life, 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 work together to combat the rodent problem.
