The Housing Department will step up patrols in public estates during the Lunar New Year, with 60 staff in eight patrol teams to be sent out from February 7 to 10 to stop illegal hawking.

The teams will work in shifts to inspect hawker blackspots in districts such as Upper and Lower Wong Tai Sin Estates near Wong Tai Sin Temple, and Sun Chui Estate near Che Kung Miu in Sha Tin.

Assistant Director of Housing (Estate Management) Lee Cert-quinn today said unlicensed hawkers - especially those selling cooked food - are usually more active during Lunar New Year holidays, when many restaurants and eateries will be closed.

He called on tenants not to patronise these hawkers and urged those with any information on such activities to report them to the estate office.