Eighty-three more red fire ant mounds have been found, bringing the total to 282, the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department says. The ants have been found for the first time in a housing estate - Tin Yan Estate in Tin Shui Wai.

Other new locations include vicinities around the Tin Yat LRT Station, Kam Po Road near KCRC West Rail Depot, the Upper Sheung Yue River and a commercial barbecue site in Tin Shui Wai. The mounds are being treated.

Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr York Chow said today the most important task is to assess the situation and examine its impact on the local ecology.

"I think we really want to see how we can control it, particularly in the areas that it might cause harm to our agriculture, our trees, and our vegetation, particularly in public parks, places where there are a lot of people walking around," Dr Chow said.

"We probably cannot eliminate them, particularly in those hillsides where nobody actually walks around. So there is a possibility they are here to stay."

New plantation areas

Deputy Director of Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Lau Sin-pang said all the new infestation locations are new plantation areas.

And at Tin Yan Estate the ants were found in a flowerbed where no mounds were seen. The ants' presence is being investigated and samples have been sent away to confirm the species.

Mr Lau said Government departments have started inspections under their jurisdictions and will make reports to build up a central mapping system.

Academics will be invited to form an advisory group to devise strategies on dealing with the insects, and meetings will be held in the coming days. Foreign experts may also be consulted through teleconferencing.

Mr Lau urged the public to stay alert and avoid the ants, adding there is no need to panic or to cordon off areas where they are found.