ENG-2006 — Page 224

184 Food Safety, Environmental Hygiene, Agriculture and Fisheries

roads, mechanised cleansing is provided. About 63 per cent of street cleansing services were outsourced to private contractors in 2006. For street washing, the FEHD maintained a fleet of 38 street washing vehicles to provide street washing and flushing services for heavily used pavements, hawker black spots and market areas.

Daily collection of household waste is carried out throughout the year, including Lunar New Year's Day. In 2006, about 61 per cent of waste collection work was outsourced. Apart from the provision of service by private contractors, the FEHD maintained a fleet of 186 refuse collection vehicles to collect household waste and bulky articles. About 5 500 tonnes of household waste were collected each day in 2006.

To meet growing public expectations, the FEHD continues to provide toilet attendants at public toilets with high usage rates. In 2006, over 80 per cent of public toilets were provided with toilet attendants. Under an ongoing programme, 10 public toilets and aqua privies were refurbished and 30 aqua privies were converted into flushing toilets in 2006.

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In line with recommendations made by the former Team Clean environmental hygiene group set up following the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome the Home Affairs Department continues to coordinate the inter-departmental drive to improve district

to improve district hygiene, encourage community involvement in keeping Hong Kong clean and in promoting civic education.

Working with other departments and participating communities, the FEHD cleaned up 124 environmental hygiene 'black spots' and removed about 317 tonnes of waste. About 3 300 temporary workers helped to maintain cleanliness in public areas and food markets during the year. The FEHD also publicised the importance of environmental hygiene.

The department took stringent action against offenders who committed cleanliness offences in public places including littering and spitting. Over 26 000 fixed penalty notices were issued during the year.

Abatement of Sanitary Nuisances

To tackle sanitary nuisance matters such as the accumulation of refuse, water dripping from air-conditioners and seeping water in private premises, the FEHD issues Nuisance Notices requiring people responsible for these nuisances to correct the situation. Prosecutions were initiated against those who failed to comply with the Nuisances Notices. During the year, the FEHD issued 1 024 such notices and initiated 11 prosecutions.

Pest Control

Preventing the spread of vector-borne and rodent-borne diseases is one of FEHD's most important tasks. The department reviews constantly the methodology and strategy used to control the spread of pests. Anti-rodent and anti-mosquito campaigns were mounted across Hong Kong during the year to urge people to help eradicate these pests.