Rodent infestation under control: survey

Hong Kong's Rodent Infestation Rate for the first half of 2011 was 1.8 per cent, according to the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department.

The figure is similar to the RIR for the second half of 2010 of 1.7 per cent and the overall RIR for 2010 of 1.5 per cent, indicating that rodent infestation in public areas in the city was generally under control.

 A spokesman for the FEHD said, "According to our surveys, the RIRs for all 19 districts in the territory were below 10 per cent in the first six months of 2011. The highest three were Mong Kok (5 per cent), Kwai Tsing (4.1 per cent) and Wan Chai (3.6 per cent)."

He explained that relatively higher RIRs recorded in some districts were mainly caused by poor hygiene conditions at specific spots and rear lanes, including accumulation of disused articles, indiscriminate disposal of refuse and improper handling of food remnants, which provide shelter and food for rodents.

The FEHD has taken enhanced rodent control measures in those districts and disseminated the message on rodent prevention and control to property management companies or owners' committees of private buildings and management bodies of schools, as well as persons-in-charge of shops and food premises in the districts concerned.

The FEHD will also continue to step up its daily anti-rodent efforts in all districts, including street cleansing, eliminating and trapping rats in rear lanes and filling rat holes.

"Effective rodent prevention and control hinge on the sustained co-operation and concerted efforts of the community and the Government. To encourage active participation of the public, the FEHD rolled out a territory-wide anti-rodent campaign in two phases this year," the spokesman said.

To enhance the effects of rodent control in the districts and achieve sustainable results, inspections will be stepped up during the Anti-rodent Campaign in target areas, which mainly include markets, market buildings, hawker bazaars, typhoon shelters and lanes close to food premises, and other problematic spots and their vicinity.

The department will also continue to organise territory-wide as well as district-based publicity and educational events to effectively promote rodent control work on various fronts.