12
WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 1977
LEGCO ADOPTS MOTION TO INCREASE CONTROL ON RATS
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UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE HON. T.S. LO, TODAY SUCCESSFULLY MOVED A MOTION URGING THE GOVERNMENT TO INCREASE ITS EFFORTS IN RODENT CONTROL.
THE MOTION WAS SUPPORTED BY DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG, THE HON. LYDIA DUNN, AND THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES.
MR. LO HAD QUESTIONED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT HAD DONE ITS BEST AND HAD BEEN USING THE MOST UP-TO-DATE METHODS TO CONTROL THE BREEDING OF RATS.
HE SAID HE HAD REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS USING A POISON TO WHICH RATS HAVE ACQUIRED AN IMMUNITY AND WHICH GETS WASHED AWAY BY RAIN. + ALSO HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT BETTER POISONS EXIST WHICH ARE RAIN RESISTANT AND AGAINST WHICH RATS HAVE NOT ACQUIRED AN IMMUNITY.+
HE SAID THAT WHEN MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE DISSATISFIED WITH SOME ASPECT OF GOVERNMENT'S WORK AND SAY SO ALL TOO OFTEN, +GOVERNMENT REPLIES THAT THE MATTER IS ESSENTIALLY UP TO THE PUBLIC.+
+ACCORDINGLY, I AM NOT PARTICULARLY SURPRISED THAT THIS IS PRECISELY WHAT GOVERNMENT SAYS WHEN CRITICISED ABOUT RATS.
+ IT SEEMS ALMOST SECOND NATURE TO GOVERNMENT TO SAY THAT ITS DIRECT ACTION AGAINST RATS WILL ALWAYS BE INADEQUATE AND THAT IT IS UP TO THE PEOPLE TO IMPROVE THE STRUCTURE OF THEIR BUILDINGS, KEEP FOOD IN RAT-PROOF STORAGE AND KEEP GARBAGE COVERED EFFECTIVELY,+ HE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE INFAMOUS+ KWAI SHING WAY AREA WAS FORMERLY A LICENSED AREA WITH 1,600 PEOPLE. +WHEN THE RESIDENTS MOVED OUT GOVERNMENT FAILED TO DEMOLISH THE STRUCTURES AND FAILED TO STOP SQUATTERS FROM MOVING IN, THE SQUATTER POPULATION ULTIMATELY GREW TO 4,100. IT IS HARDLY SURPRISING THAT RATS FOUND PLENTY OF FOOD AND HARBOURAGE IN THE AREA.+
HE SAID IT MUST HAVE BEEN WELL-KNOWN TO THE GOVERNMENT AS EARLY AS 1973 THAT THE AREA WOULD VERY SOON BECOME RAT INFESTED.
DR. THE HON, HARRY FANG SAID THAT UNSANITARY CONDITIONS EXIST IN SLUM AREAS LIKE KWAI SHING WAI, EVEN IF NOT ON THE SAME SCALE AS THE PLAGUE OF 1894. -IT IS A VERY POOR RECORD OF PROGRESS IN THIS MODERN DAY AND AGE, HE SAID.
+ACCORDING TO THE ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, UP TO 1974-75 TESTS WERE DONE ON SAMPLE RATS FOR PLAGUE AND OTHER ORGANISMS. ARE THESE STILL BEING CARRIED OUT REGULARLY?+ HE ASKED.
/HE SHOTEL