Press Releases
AMSC members inspect anti-mosquito work in Sheung Shui
Members of the Anti-mosquito Steering Committee (AMSC) today (May 22) visited
Kam Tsin Pond, Sheung Shui to learn more about the improvement in environmental
hygiene in the rural setting following the implementation of an anti-mosquito
project there from last August to January this year.
Speaking after the visit, AMSC chairperson, the Permanent Secretary for Health,
Welfare and Food (Food and Environmental Hygiene), Mrs Carrie Yau, noted the
hygienic conditions in the area had significantly improved with the completion
of the project, which would help prevent the breeding of mosquitoes.
She said the government departments concerned would continue to carry out
improvement measures there to keep the environment clean and free of
mosquito-breeding problems, adding that the project was only part of the
Government's preventive measures against mosquitoes.
The AMSC met in the morning to review the effectiveness of mosquito prevention
and control work adopted by the Government in the past year and the proposed
activities in 2006.
Apart from preventive work, various government departments have been working
together to roll out a series of publicity and education campaigns to heighten
awareness of the importance of the community's anti-mosquito efforts.
Action was also taken by various departments to eliminate mosquito breeding in
high-risk areas throughout the territory, including clearing potential
mosquito-breeding black spots in all public rental housing estates and releasing
native fish species that feed on mosquito larvae in deserted ponds to help
control the mosquito-breeding problem. District Councils would also be
encouraged to take anti-mosquito operations and publicity campaigns in
collaboration with government's overall anti-mosquito efforts.
To help vector control, the Government had recently amended the Public Health
and Municipal Services Ordinance to hold the management body of a property
legally liable for mosquito breeding in common areas and to more effectively
tackle mosquito-breeding problems arising from accumulation of water.
With the amendment, when there was a mosquito-related health hazard in Hong
Kong, staff of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) might apply
for a warrant from the court to enter premises to take immediate action against
mosquito breeding without issuing a prior notice to the person responsible for
the premises. This would enable government to deal with mosquito-breeding
problems in abandoned huts and deserted agricultural land much more effectively.
Those convicted of offences under the amendment ordinance are liable to a
maximum fine of $25,000.
"Although the ovitrap survey results in the first few months of 2006 are on the
low side, there have been 11 imported dengue fever cases to date. We should not
take this casually. The public are urged to stay alert and to adopt
anti-mosquito measures, especially when the weather becomes warmer and damper,
providing more favourable conditions for mosquito breeding.
"If any mosquito breeding grounds or potential breeding places are found, people
should take effective measures to remove them immediately.
"People should also take anti-mosquito measures include scrubbing vases and pot
plant saucers at least once a week, disposing of containers such as soft drink
cans or lunch boxes properly, filling in uneven ground. People visiting rural
areas should bring mosquito-repellent spray and wear light-coloured clothing,"
Mrs Yau said.
Ends/Monday, May 22, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:01
NNNN
(Photo)