Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ7: Environmental hygiene blackspots
Following is a question by the Hon Alan Leong and a written reply by the
Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today
(December 15):
Question:
Recently, I have received complaints from residents of Ting On Street in Ngau
Tau Kok about the hygiene conditions in that district. They alleged that the
hygiene conditions of the restaurants in the vicinity of Ting On Street were not
satisfactory, and they were worried that cockroach and rodent infestation would
affect the residents' daily lives. Regarding the hygiene problems in the
community, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether the authorities will establish a mechanism to regularly publicise
the list of hygiene blackspots and set specific targets for cleaning up hygiene
blackspots within specified time; if they will, of the details; if not, the
reasons for that;
(b) given that the hygiene conditions of some hygiene blackspots quickly
deteriorate quite easily after being cleaned up, whether the authorities will
conduct follow-up surveillance after cleaning up the hygiene blackspots so as to
prevent hygiene problems from recurring and affect the residents' daily lives;
if not, of the reasons for that; and
(c) focusing on the environment in the vicinity of Ting On Street, what measures
the authorities will take to tackle hygiene problems in the community?
Reply:
President,
(a) and (b) One of the important tasks of the Food and Environmental Hygiene
Department (FEHD) is to provide a clean and hygienic environment for the people
of Hong Kong. In areas where the environmental hygiene conditions are
unsatisfactory, FEHD has been actively enhancing clean-up and enforcement
actions having regard to the circumstances.
In light of the exceptional circumstances of the global and local outbreaks of
human swine influenza, FEHD, after consulting the District Councils (DCs),
commenced large-scale cleansing operations at 105 environmental hygiene
blackspots across the territory in May 2009. The operations included increasing
the frequency of street cleaning/washing and pest control work, removing
stubborn dirt on pavements with high pressure hot water cleaners and stepping up
enforcement against contraventions of food premises and persons contravening
cleansing legislation. Cases involving damages of pavements, leakage of
pipes/ducts, blockage of drainage and unauthorised structures were referred to
the relevant departments for follow-up actions. The operations were completed in
February 2010. After inspection, the DCs agreed that the hygiene condition of
the blackspots had significantly improved.
FEHD will continue to keep in view the hygiene condition of the above 105
locations. Where necessary, the frequency of cleansing and pest control work
will be increased and prosecution action will be stepped up to maintain
environmental hygiene. As and when required, the District Environmental Hygiene
Offices of FEHD will also request the District Management Committees chaired by
the District Officers to hold discussions and make arrangements for joint
departmental operations.
(c) The vicinity of Ting On Street in Ngau Tau Kok is one of the 105 hygiene
blackspots identified and cleaned up last year. After the large-scale cleansing
operations launched last year, the environmental hygiene condition in the
vicinity of the Street has greatly improved. During the operations, various
measures were taken to tackle the environmental hygiene problems of the Street,
including additional deployment of Roving Cleansing Teams to clear refuse,
removing stubborn dirt on pavements with high pressure hot water cleaners and
increasing the frequency of street cleansing from once to twice a week and the
frequency of pest control work from once a week to once every four days.
Moreover, a total of 41 inspections were conducted at the food premises in the
area during the operations and warnings were issued or prosecutions were taken
against malpractices. Cases involving damages of pavements, leakage of
pipes/ducts, blockage of drainage and unauthorised structures found during the
operations were referred to the relevant departments for follow-up actions.
FEHD will continue to keep in view the hygiene condition in the vicinity of Ting
On Street. Apart from daily street sweeping, weekly pest control and street
washing operations, regular inspections will be made to check the hygiene
condition of the food premises in the area and public places nearby to ensure
that food business operators and workers comply with the licensing conditions
and statutory requirements. At the same time, FEHD will continue to enhance
publicity to put across the environmental hygiene message by means of posters,
banners and talks, and work closely with the relevant DC and departments to
further improve the hygiene condition of the area.
Ends/Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Issued at HKT 12:36
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