New Anti-Rodent Charter Aims to Create Rodent-Free Residential Areas

EEB meets trade representatives on launch of Anti-rodent Charter

The Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) today (December 12) met trade representatives of the Cross-sectoral Territory-wide Anti-rodent Action to introduce the Anti-rodent Charter for residential premises and related commercial units to be launched by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD). The Charter aims to raise awareness on maintaining environmental hygiene and cultivate good habits among residents to create a rodent-free environment.

Successful prevention and control of rodents relies on the concerted efforts and active participation of stakeholders from various sectors, including pest control operators in both public and private sectors, venue management, and the general public. It is essential to implement good hygienic practices complemented by effective rodent prevention measures, as well as to eliminate the three fundamental survival conditions of rodents in the environment, 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 to achieve sustainable anti-rodent effect and prevent the reproduction of rodents.

At the meeting with the EEB and the FEHD earlier, the property management sector agreed to strengthen co-operation with the Government to further promote rodent prevention and control in private residential buildings with property management and related commercial units, and to participate in the first phase of the Charter. Starting from December 31, 2024, the FEHD will invite property management companies, owners' corporations, residents' organisations of private residential premises, the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS), transitional housing, subsidised sale flats and Tenants Purchase Scheme estates to sign the Charter. Premises participating in the Charter will commit to assigning anti-rodent liaison ambassadors to co-ordinate anti-rodent efforts in their premises. Ambassadors also need to carry out regular inspections and arrange necessary repairs and maintenance works of facilities, and ensure suitable cleaning and refuse removal of the housing estates or buildings. Besides implementing anti-rodent measures, participants have to supervise the quality and performance of the hired anti-rodent service contractors and maintain relevant records of anti-rodent work. They are also responsible for conveying anti-rodent messages to residents through promotion and education, encouraging residents to improve environmental conditions and cultivate good habits in personal hygiene and maintaining a clean environment.

Participants will be provided with free anti-rodent technical support from the FEHD, including invitations to attend pest control seminars organised by the FEHD. In addition, the FEHD will present Charter certificates and stickers to the participants and publish a list of participating organisations and premises on a dedicated webpage to affirm their efforts.

At the meeting, representatives from different sectors (including the pest control sector, markets, licensed hawkers, catering and construction) were briefed by the Government on the details of the Charter for private residential premises and related commercial units. They indicated that they would share the relevant information with their stakeholders. The property management sector said that they would assist in publicising the Charter among property management companies, owners' corporations and residents' organisations, with a view to raising residents' awareness of maintaining environmental hygiene, cultivating good habits, and working together in rodent control to create a more livable environment. Depending on the experience gained from the first phase launched on December 31, 2024, the Government will consider extending the Charter to other sectors in due course.

Regarding mosquito infestation, given that Hong Kong has recorded more than 150 imported and five local dengue fever (DF) cases this year, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health gave an update on the latest situation of DF and the CHP's risk assessment. The FEHD also reported on the targeted mosquito control operations carried out in the past two weeks in response to a local case. The FEHD and relevant departments have intensified mosquito control work in the residence, workplace and locations visited by the patient during the incubation period and after illness onset. These efforts include:

conducting fogging operations and placing mosquito trapping devices in the scrubby areas within a 250-metre radius of the related locations to eradicate adult mosquitoes;

carrying out weekly inspections of the above locations, removing stagnant water, applying insecticide and disposing of abandoned water containers to prevent mosquito breeding; and

trimming of grass to remove the potential habitat of mosquitoes and facilitate mosquito control work; and

stepping up publicity and education work, including organising health talks, deploying the Mobile Education Centre and distributing leaflets.

At the meeting, the FEHD urged the attendees to actively implement anti-mosquito measures and carry out intensive mosquito control operations in areas under their purview to reduce the risk of DF transmission.　

The Cross-sectoral Territory-wide Anti-rodent Action has been introduced since the end of 2022 to consolidate strengths from the Government and various sectors of the community for a cross-sectoral, multidisciplinary, and community-wide approach to anti-rodent work. Whilevarious sectors and government departments are consolidating the rodent control work, the public is encouraged to actively collaborate in rodent prevention and control actions by eliminating the food, harbourage and passages of rodents.

The meeting was chaired by the Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong. Participants of the meeting came from 15 organisations or institutions, namely the HKHS, Link, People's Place, the Hong Kong Property Services Alliance, the Hong Kong Association of Property Management Companies, the Federation of Hong Kong Property Management Industry, the Hong Kong Association of Property Services Agents, the Pest Control Personnel Association of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Pest Management Association, the Federation of Hong Kong, Kowloon, New Territories Hawker Associations, the Association of Restaurant Managers, the Hong Kong Construction Association and the Hong Kong General Building Contractors Association.

EEB meets trade representatives on launch of Anti-rodent Charter Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Tsui Ping River facilities open today

Under the Revitalization of Tsui Ping River project by the Drainage Services Department (DSD), the Tsui Ping River facilities along the King Yip Street section were opened for public use today (December 12), following the earlier opening of the Tsui Ping Seaside and the sections along Tsui Ping Road and King Yip Lane. The remaining Wai Yip Street section will be opened later this month, marking the full opening of the Tsui Ping Riverside Promenade upon revitalisation.

Speaking at the opening ceremony today, the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, said that the DSD has been committed to enhancing the flood control capabilities of drainage facilities in recent years. At the same time, the DSD has been adhering to the concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" and actively implementing "Rivers in the City" concept, as well as enhancing river ecology and landscape design to create a better living environment for the public. The revitalised Tsui Ping River exemplifies the DSD's efforts.

Also speaking at the ceremony, the Director of Drainage Services, Mr Ringo Mok, said that Revitalization of Tsui Ping River is the first riverside public space project that the DSD is solely responsible for its design, construction, maintenance and daily management. He hoped that Tsui Ping River would become a new landmark of Kwun Tong as well as a vibrant and natural public space.

In 2012, the Development Bureau proposed the Energizing Kowloon East Conceptual Master Plan and put forward the concept of transforming the King Yip Street nullah in Kwun Tong into the Tsui Ping River. Without compromising its stormwater drainage function and capacity, the Revitalization of Tsui Ping River project has adopted the concept of "River in the City" to revitalise the previous King Yip Street nullah, which was mainly used for flood prevention. Environmental, ecological and landscape enhancement works were carried out to turn the nullah into the 1-kilometre-long Tsui Ping Riverside Promenade, which provides a riverside public space and enhances connectivity within the district with newly constructed cross-river pedestrian walkways. The project has also enhanced the river's flood protection capacity and reduced the flood risk of Kwun Tong District by deepening a portion of the riverbed from Tsui Ping Road to King Yip Street, as well as installing flood walls upstream.

After revitalisation, the Tsui Ping River is equipped with six landscape decks and seven pedestrian walkways to strengthen the connectivity with the surrounding areas, making it a walkable and accessible green river corridor in the district. With the adoption of advanced technology, an intelligent water gate smartly adjusts its rise and fall according to the weather forecast. This helps manage the water level of the river and maintain maximum drainage capacity. There are also ecological installations including bird perches, rock pools, tidal pools and ecological walls to create favourable conditions for the river ecosystem and attract more natural species to inhabit the river.

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, 75 art installations of the DSD KOL (key opinion leader) named Drainy with various themes have been placed along the riverbank of the King Yip Street section of the Tsui Ping River for public viewing and photo taking.

The Tsui Ping River is adjacent to the Kwun Tong Business Area and Laguna City. To access the promenade, members of the public can walk for about three minutes from Exit D4 of the MTR Kwun Tong Station or walk through Laguna Park for about 10 minutes from Exit D1 of the MTR Lam Tin Station. They can also take various bus and minibus routes to get there.