The Environment & Ecology Bureau today met trade representatives to introduce the Anti-rodent Charter for residential premises and related commercial units to be launched by the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD).

The charter aims to raise awareness on maintaining environmental hygiene and cultivate good habits among residents to create a rodent-free environment.

From December 31, the FEHD will invite property management companies, owners' corporations, residents' organisations of private residential premises, the Housing Society, transitional housing, subsidised sale flats and Tenants Purchase Scheme estates to sign the charter.

Premises participating in the charter will commit to assigning anti-rodent liaison ambassadors to co-ordinate anti-rodent efforts in their premises. Ambassadors need to carry out regular inspections and arrange necessary repairs and maintenance works of facilities, and ensure suitable cleaning and refuse removal of the housing estates or buildings.

Besides implementing anti-rodent measures, participants have to supervise the quality and performance of the hired anti-rodent service contractors and maintain relevant records of anti-rodent work.

They are also responsible for conveying anti-rodent messages to residents through promotion and education, encouraging residents to improve environmental conditions and cultivate good habits in personal hygiene and maintaining a clean environment.

Participants will be provided with free anti-rodent technical support from the FEHD, including invitations to attend pest control seminars. In addition, the FEHD will present charter certificates and stickers to the participants and publish a list of participating organisations and premises on a dedicated webpage to affirm their efforts.

At the meeting, the Government briefed representatives from the pest control sector, markets, licensed hawkers, catering and construction sectors on the details of the charter. They indicated that they will share the relevant information with their stakeholders.

The property management sector also said that they will assist in publicising the charter among property management companies, owners' corporations and residents' organisations.

Depending on the experience gained from the first phase launched end of this year, the Government will consider extending the charter to other sectors in due course.

Regarding mosquito infestation, given that Hong Kong has recorded more than 150 imported and five local Dengue fever cases this year, the Department of Health‘s Centre for Health Protection gave an update on the latest Dengue situation and the centre's risk assessment.