SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 1984
ANTI-RAT DRIVE STEPPED UP
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MORE THAN 60 000 RATS WERE EXTERMINATED IN THE NEW TERRITORIES IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS.
AND A MONTH-LONG ANTI-RAT EXERCISE IS NOW UNDERWAY, COINCIDING WITH THE YEAR-END CLEAN-UP IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NTSD SAID TODAY.
IT IS AIMED AT REDUCING RODENT INFESTATION SO AS TO PROVIDE A MORE PLEASANT LIVING ENVIRONMENT FOR THE RESIDENTS AND TO PROTECT THEIR HEALTH AGAINST DISEASES WHICH MAY BE TRANSMITTED THROUGH RATS, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
LAST YEAR, NTSD CARRIED OUT SOME 1 800 BLOCK DISINFESTATION OR HOLE-BAITING JOBS IN THE WAR AGAINST RATS THROUGHOUT THE NEW TOWNS AND RURAL AREAS.
RATS NOT ONLY CARRY DISEASES AND CAUSE FOOD POISONING, BUT ALSO DAMAGE GOODS AND PROPERTIES, HE SAID.
NTSD OFFICERS ARE NOW INSPECTING ALL POSSIBLE RODENT BREEDING PLACES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, IN THE EFFORT TO REDUCE THE MENACE.
TO AROUSE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE RAT PROBLEM, POSTERS, PAMPHLETS AND LETTERS ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED TO THE MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, MANAGEMENT OFFICES OF MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS, FOOD ESTABLISHMENT OPERATORS AND HOUSEHOLDERS.
WHILE IT IS RECOGNISED THAT THE RAT MENACE CANNOT BE ELIMINATED, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, MEASURES CAN BE TAKEN TO REDUCE THE PROBLEM.
THE BEST METHOD TO STOP THEM FROM BREEDING IS TO KEEP ALL FOOD IN RAT-PROOF CONTAINERS AND LEAVE NO REFUSE AROUND.
IT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT NOT TO ALLOW RATS TO MAKE HOMES IN HOLES IN FLOORS, DUCTS FOR PIPES OR WIRING IN FLOORS OR WALLS, VENTILATION OPENINGS, YARDS AND GARDENS, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
+A BUILDING THAT IS CLEAN AND WELL MAINTAINED KEEPS THE RATS AWAY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ENCOUNTER RAT NUISANCE ARE WELCOME TO CONTACT THE URBAN SERVICES OFFICE IN THE IR DISTRICT FOR ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE.
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