Public co-operation is essential in combating mosquito-transmitted diseases, Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong says.

Briefing District Council heads on the Government's efforts to prevent and control infectious diseases - such as Dengue fever and SARS - Dr Yeoh today solicited the councils' support for better environmental hygiene to combat mosquito-transmitted diseases.

As good results were yielded in checking mosquito breeding with the collaboration of the councils last year, Dr Yeoh hoped their efforts could be further mobilised in boosting environmental and personal hygiene.

Meanwhile, Dr Yeoh has written to all relevant department heads urging them to step up their anti-mosquito efforts as a matter of priority.

The Anti-mosquito Steering Committee chaired by Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Carrie Yau will convene a meeting on June 21 to review the situation and consider additional preventive measures

Extra anti-mosquito operations in the pipeline

A number of Government departments and organisations will mount special anti-mosquito operations over the next few days. They include the following:

*The Lands Department will ask contractors to inspect all 600 pieces of government land with overgrown grass, focusing in particular on the high-risk areas;

*The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department will mount in collaboration with other relevant departments a series of large-scale operations in Mui Wo on June18;

*The Leisure & Cultural Services Department will carry out anti-mosquito operations in Ma On Shan Park on June 19; and

*Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation has instructed contractors to step up inspections to their work sites from once a week to once every other day. The frequency of spraying pesticides will be increased from once every six weeks to once a month.

The Health, Welfare & Food Bureau also calls on the public to participate actively in anti-mosquito activities by eliminating potential mosquito breeding grounds in their premises and the neighbourhood.