XN000022-1986-09-14 — Page 4

3

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1986

FRESH DRIVE AGAINST MOSQUITO NUISANCE

*****

THERE SHOULD BE NO LET-UP ANTI-MOSQUITO EFFORTS AS THERE IS USUALLY A SECOND PEAK OF MOSQUITO NUISANCE IN LATE SUMMER.

MAKING THIS APPEAL, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT OF THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH SAID THE UNIT IS LAUNCHING A TERRITORY-WIDE ANTI-MOSQUITO EDUCATION CAMPAIGN THIS MONTH TO REMIND RESIDENTS OF THE NEED TO COMBAT THE MOSQUITO NUISANCE.

AS PART OF THE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN, THE UNIT HAS SET UP A 24-HOUR TELEPHONE SERVICE ON THE PREVENTION OF MOSQUITO BREEDING.

THE SERVICE PROVIDES A RECORDED MESSAGE IN CANTONESE. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY DIAL 5-8916443 FOR THIS ANTI-MOSQUITO ADVICE.

STRESSING THE +NO STAGNANT WATER, NO MOSQUITO BREEDING+ MESSAGE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE FOLLOWING MEASURES SHOULD BE TAKEN TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF MOSQUITO BREEDING:

*

TO

KEEP ALL TINS, BOTTLES, RECEPTACLES AND OUTER TYRES AWAY FROM OPEN SPACES SUCH AS ROOFS, YARDS AND CANOPIES. AND TURN UPSIDE DOWN ALL LARGE RECEPTACLES WHICH CANNOT BE MOVED READILY;

* KEEP WATER STORAGE TANKS COVERED AND SEE THEY ARE IN

GOOD REPAIRS

* ENSURE THAT DRAINAGE IS IN ORDER TO PREVENT POSSIBLE

ACCUMULATION OF WATER, AND

RENEW WATER IN VASES AT LEAST ONCE WEEKLY AND MAKE

SURE THAT NO WATER ACCUMULATES IN TRAYS OR UNDER-PLATES OF FLOWER POTS.

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO CALLED ON BUILDING CONTRACTORS TO INSPECT THEIR SITES FREQUENTLY AND TO ELIMINATE ALL STAGNANT WATER ON THE SITES, OR TO SPRAY AT LEAST ONCE WEEKLY A LAYER OF LIGHT DIESEL OIL ON SUCH SURFACES IF ELIMINATION WAS IMPOSSIBLE.

THE

UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES ORDINANCE, IT IS AN OFFENCE TO ALLOW MOSQUITO BREEDING ON PREMISES. PENALTY IS A MAXIMUM FINE OF $10 000,

THE UNIT HAS ALSO SENT CIRCULAR LETTERS WITH SUPPORTING PUBLICITY MATERIAL TO BUILDING CONTRACTORS, OWNERS' CORPORATIONS, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND MANAGEMENT OFFICES OF LARGE PRIVATE HOUSING ESTATES APPEALING FOR THEIR CO-OPERATION IN PREVENTING MOSQUITO BREEDING.

ANTI-MOSQUITO POSTERS ARE ALSO BEING DISTRIBUTED TO SCHOOLS AS WELL AS TO DISTRICT OFFICES OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION FOR DISPLAY.

14