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Food Safety, Environmental Hygiene, Agriculture and Fisheries
systems where the projects are technically feasible, cost-effective and sufficiently supported by
tenants.
The department will start planning for new public markets in Tung Chung, Tin Shui Wai and Hung Shui Kiu. Consideration is being given to adopting new approaches to the design, construction and operation of such projects.
Hawkers
The FEHD regulates hawking in Hong Kong. As at end-2017, there were 5,341 licensed fixed- pitch hawkers and 399 licensed itinerant hawkers.
A five-year Assistance Scheme for Hawkers in Fixed-pitch Hawker Areas, launched in 2013, offers financial help to 4,300 hawkers in 43 fixed-pitch hawker areas to reduce fire risks in hawker areas. In 2017, all 508 fixed-pitch hawkers whose stalls were situated at building staircase discharge. points or places that might obstruct the operation of fire engines were relocated. Up to the end of the year, the department had received 3,233 applications for relocation and reconstruction grants, and 739 hawkers had surrendered their licences.
Slaughterhouses
The FEHD oversees the hygiene standards of licensed slaughterhouses in Sheung Shui, Tsuen Wan and Cheung Chau. Meat supplied by the slaughterhouses has to pass inspection by health officials before delivery to markets. During the year, 37,753 animal health certificates and 8,712 entry permits for local pigs were verified at the slaughterhouses, 48,319 samples of urine and tissue were taken from animals and tested for veterinary drug residues, and 1,558,729 pigs, 17,359 head of cattle and 3,250 goats were slaughtered.
The department's intelligence Unit tracks down vendors selling chilled meat as fresh meat and meat from illicit sources. By exchanging intelligence with the Customs and Excise Department and working with the Centre for Food Safety, it carried out eight raids, secured eight convictions and seized 16.7kg of smuggled meat in 2017.
Public Cleaning Services
The FEHD provides services for street cleansing, household waste collection and public toilets. All streets are swept one to eight times a day and are washed regularly, from daily to fortnightly or whenever the need arises, depending on their conditions. Flyovers and high-speed roads. undergo mechanised cleansing. Additional cleansing services are provided where necessary to maintain environmental hygiene.
Household waste is collected all year round. In 2017, about 77 per cent of waste collection services was outsourced and about 5,750 tonnes of household waste were collected daily by the department and its contractors.
Five new public toilets were constructed and seven public toilets were refurbished. Toilet attendant services are provided at heavily used public toilets.
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