Food Safety, Environmental Hygiene, Agriculture and Fisheries | 181
Daily collection of household waste is carried out year round, including Lunar New Year's Day, a public holiday. About 5 300 tonnes of household waste were collected each day in 2007. About 61 per cent of waste collection services were outsourced in 2007. Apart from the services provided by private contractors, the FEHD mobilised a fleet of 164 refuse collection vehicles to collect household waste and bulky articles.
To meet growing public expectations, the FEHD continues to provide toilet attendants at heavily used public toilets. In 2007, about 60 per cent of public toilets were serviced by toilet attendants. Six public toilets and aqua privies were refurbished and 56 aqua privies were converted into flushing toilets in 2007 in an ongoing drive. to improve such facilities.
The department took strong action against people who dirtied public places by discarding litter, spitting and other such anti-social acts. Some 27 000 fixed penalty notices were issued during the year.
Abatement of Sanitary Nuisances
To deal with sanitary nuisances such as the accumulation of refuse, water dripping from air-conditioners and water seepage in private premises, the FEHD issues Nuisance Notices requiring responsible parties to take necessary action to stop the nuisances. Prosecutions are initiated against those who fail to comply with the Nuisance Notice. During the year, the FEHD issued 1 240 such notices and initiated 16 prosecutions.
Pest Control
Preventing the spread of pest-borne diseases is one of the FEHD's most important tasks. The department reviews constantly the methodology and strategy used to control the spread of pests. Anti-rodent and anti-mosquito campaigns are carried out across Hong Kong annually to urge people to help eradicate these pests.
The department continued its surveillance programme on Aedes albopictus, a major carrier of dengue fever in Hong Kong. Anti-mosquito squads conducted some 672 000 inspections of various places and eliminated some 68 600 mosquito breeding grounds during the year.
Cemeteries and Crematoria
As land is scarce in Hong Kong, the Government encourages cremation of the dead. Normally, human remains in public cemeteries are exhumed after six years for cremation or re-interment in urn cemeteries.
To provide more alternatives for the disposal of cremated ashes, and also to help ease the shortage of niches, the Government promotes the scattering of cremated ashes at designated Hong Kong waters and in gardens of remembrance.
The FEHD operates six government crematoria, 11 public cemeteries and eight columbaria, and oversees the management of 28 private cemeteries.