Question No. 3
Reply by the Hon. Y.L. PANG, ISO, JP, Acting Secretary for Housing to a question by the Hon Hilton CHEONG-Leen, CBE, JP, in Legislative Council on 12 March 1986
QUESTION: To what extent is the problem of rats a cause
for concern to residents in public housing estates, and will the Housing Department take steps to co-operate more closely with the Pest Control Advisory Section of Municipal Services Branch to ensure that the problem is not getting out of hand?
Sir,
Rats do exist in public housing estates, but have
not been such a serious problem as to cause undue concern to
residents. In its efforts to prevent the infestation of
rats, the Housing Department liaises closely with the Pest
Control Advisory Section of the Municipal Services Branch
which assists in offering advice and co-operation to the
Department.
2.
Rats are attracted to where food is easily
available such as near cooked food centres. Adjacent
planted areas tend to provide hiding places for them.
Το
discourage this, planted areas in public housing estates are
regularly cleared and trimmed, holes in open grounds are
sealed or screened, and chemical fertilizers are used rather
than organic materials which are attractive to rats. The
Pest Control Advisory Section also undertakes poison-baiting
and trapping of rats to prevent their infestation.