To provide a cleaner environment for the Year of the Monkey, the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department will start a three-week clean-up campaign on December 29.

The Year-end Clean-up Operation 2004 includes a wide range of intensified clean-up actions and mosquito and rodent control measures in all districts in preparation for the Lunar New Year.

The clean-up is also a major activity in support of Team Clean's efforts to improve our environment.

To ensure cleanliness of public places, the department will adopt a zero-tolerance approach to offences under the Fixed Penalty (Public Cleanliness Offences) Ordinance, including littering, feeding feral birds, spitting, illegal bill posting and dog fouling.

There will also be strict enforcement of regulations requiring the removal from public places of articles that cause obstruction.

From December 29 to January 18, the department will step up inspections and cleaning operations at markets, cooked food centres, hawker bazaars, public toilets, public bathhouses, refuse collection points, as well as streets and other public places, including hygiene blackspots, with a view to safeguarding public health.

Intensive efforts to combat mosquito breeding will continue in an effort to reduce the risk of Dengue fever. The operations will focus on old tenement buildings, village houses and passenger and cargo/container terminals.

On top of the Government clean-up efforts, District Councils will organise a series of promotional activities to solicit local community support. Council members will inspect the clean-up operations in their districts and assess the results.