Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ7: Fly infestation
Following is a question by the Hon Leung Che-cheung and a written reply
by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, in the Legislative
Council today (November 6):
Question:
It has been reported that some housing estates and villages in Tuen Mun
and Yuen Long have recently been swarmed by a large quantity of flies,
causing serious nuisance to the residents and business operators in the
two districts. Some residents have suspected that the flies came from
the West New Territories Landfill in Nim Wan, Tuen Mun, but the
authorities have indicated for several times that the source of the
flies is yet to be confirmed. In this connection, will the Government
inform this Council:
(a) whether the authorities have now confirmed the sources of the flies
in the aforesaid cases; why the authorities have indicated for several
times that it cannot confirm whether the West New Territories Landfill
is the source of the flies; of the method currently adopted by the
authorities for tracking down the sources of the flies, as well as the
details and effectiveness of the measures to control flies;
(b) of the respective dates, durations, affected areas and sources of
flies each time Tuen Mun and Yuen Long were plagued with the problem of
flies in the past five years;
(c) of the number of complaints about problems of flies received by the
authorities in the past five years, together with the names of the
housing estates or villages concerned and the dates of the complaints;
and
(d) whether the authorities have conducted laboratory tests on the flies
captured to find out if the flies appearing in different districts
belong to the same species or come from the same source?
Reply:
President,
My reply to the question is as follows:
(a) The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) conducted on
October 8, 9 and 10, 2013 respectively on-site inspections at Leung King
Estate Market, Sam Shing Estate Market and Butterfly Estate Market,
which were reported to be swarming with flies. Persons-in-charge of the
management company of these markets (i.e. The Link Management Limited
(The Link)) were advised to take measures to keep environmental hygiene
and prevent fly infestation, including increasing the frequency of
cleansing in market areas and applying fly sprays, keeping the market
floor clean as well as washing floor surface and drainage on a regular
basis so as to prevent flies from breeding in food waste. The FEHD also
requested The Link to remind market traders to cover their food
properly, dispose of rubbish in a lidded rubbish bin and always put the
lid on. Upon its subsequent reviews conducted at the aforementioned
markets between October 10 and 12, 2013, the FEHD found that with the
corresponding measures adopted by the Link to prevent fly infestation,
the fly problem had been greatly alleviated.
In addition, FEHD officers carried out inspections and stepped up
control and prevention work against fly infestation at Lung Kwu Tan in
Tuen Mun on October 8, 2013, and the areas around Ha Pak Nai Tsuen in
Yuen Long on October 11, 17 and 18 respectively. Villagers were also
reminded to dispose of household refuse properly and cover all refuse
bins tightly for effective prevention of fly infestation. The FEHD has
instructed pest control service contractors to increase the frequency of
pest control operations as and when required. The FEHD inspected the two
said locations again recently and found that the fly problem had been
largely resolved.
The FEHD also conducted several inspections (on October 8, 11 and 18) of
the West New Territories Landfill (WENT Landfill) jointly with the
Environmental Protection Department (EPD).
EPD pointed out that the operation of the WENT Landfill has all along
been subject to stringent contract requirements and environmental
protection legislation. The landfill contractor has also carried out
on-going pest control work in the landfill. As no serious problem of fly
infestation has occurred in the landfill recently, there is no evidence
that the landfill is the source of the flies. Nevertheless, the EPD has
immediately stepped up inspections in collaboration with the landfill
contractor. It has also liaised with the FEHD for implementation of more
effective pest control measures, including more frequent pest
disinfestation work.
According to the investigation, there is no evidence that the landfill
is the source of the large quantity of flies found lately in various
areas of Tuen Mun. Besides, it is noted that no problem of fly
infestation has been detected in the neighbouring areas of the WENT
Landfill.
(b) and (c) Over the past five years, the FEHD received complaints about
nuisance of flies in markets at Tin Shing Estate, Tin Shui Estate and
Tin Yiu Estate of Tin Shui Wai between June and August 2012. The FEHD
found that the problem was eased a few days after the management company
of these markets had adopted FEHD's recommendations for environmental
hygiene improvement and fly infestation prevention and cleansed the
markets thoroughly.
(d) Recently, the FEHD found house flies (which mainly breed in general
household refuse), blow flies (which mainly breed in rotten vegetables
and fruits as well as animal faeces) and flesh flies (which mainly breed
in decaying meat) during its investigation in different locations.
Places suitable for the breeding of the relevant kinds of flies are also
present near the locations where these flies were found. Flies will
usually move about and breed in places where they hatched out.
Ends/Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Issued at HKT 15:08
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