176 | Food Safety, Environmental Hygiene, Agriculture and Fisheries
Daily collection of household waste is carried out all year round. In 2008, about 69 per cent of waste collection services were outsourced and about 5 160 tonnes of household waste were collected each day by a fleet of 235 refuse collection vehicles maintained by the FEHD and its contractors.
The FEHD continues to provide toilet attendants at heavily used public toilets. In 2008, about 57 per cent of public toilets were serviced by toilet attendants. Eight public toilets and one aqua privy were refurbished and 24 aqua privies were converted to flushing toilets in an ongoing drive to improve such facilities.
The FEHD and six other departments take strong action against people who dirty public places by littering, spitting, and carrying out similar anti-social acts. In 2008, some 34 000 fixed penalty notices were served on offenders.
Abatement of Sanitary Nuisances
To deal with sanitary nuisances such as refuse accumulation, water dripping from air-conditioners and water seepage from private premises, the FEHD issues Nuisance Notices requiring responsible parties to take necessary action to stop the nuisances. Prosecutions are taken out against those who fail to comply with the Nuisance Notices. During the year, the FEHD issued 2 573 such notices and initiated 42 prosecutions.
Pest Control
Preventing the spread of pest-borne diseases is one of FEHD's tasks. The department reviews constantly the methodology and strategy for controlling the spread of pests. Anti-rodent and anti-mosquito campaigns are carried out across Hong Kong annually to urge people to help curb the spread of these pests.
The department continued its close surveillance of Aedes albopictus, a major carrier of dengue fever in Hong Kong. Anti-mosquito teams conducted some 673 000 inspections of possible mosquito breeding spots and eliminated some 65 800 of them 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 ease the shortage of niches, the Government encourages 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.