Category: MIL-OSI

Pest Control Steering Committee reviews progress of anti-mosquito and anti-rodent work implemented by departments (with photo) 
Mosquito control
 
     The representative of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) reported to the PCSC its work on mosquito control over the past year and the progress of this year’s initiatives. The overall situation of mosquito infestation was generally under control. It is worth noting that the FEHD temporarily extended its intensified mosquito control work, which was originally activated when the area gravidtrap index (AGI) reaches 20 per cent (Level 3), to cover areas with the AGI fall between 10 and 20 per cent (Level 2), until further notice. In addition, the survey area of gravidtrap for Aedes albopictus in the Tsing Yi North has been extended to cover the Tsing Yi Nature Trails. The FEHD will continue to leverage technologies, including robotic dogs and drones, to support its mosquito prevention and control work.
      
     According to the mosquito surveillance data, the overall trend of the gravidtrap index for Aedes albopictus has remained similar to past years. The indices for January and February 2026 remained low, consistent with the same period in past years. As the warm and humid weather of spring approaches, the gravidtrap index is anticipated to rise along with warmer weather and the rainy season as in previous years. The FEHD and relevant departments will continue to strengthen mosquito prevention and control work, including eliminating mosquito breeding grounds, applying larvicides, conducting fogging operations to eliminate adult mosquitoes, and installing mosquito trapping devices at suitable locations. The FEHD will also continue to conduct joint on-site inspections with relevant departments, and provide them with professional advice and technical guidance.
      
     Representatives from the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health (DH) presented the latest risk assessment of mosquito-borne diseases. As the hot and rainy weather approaches, coupled with the increase in inbound and outbound passenger traffic during the upcoming long holidays, the overall risk of importing and locally transmitting mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever and chikungunya fever is expected to increase. To prevent mosquito-borne diseases, members of the public are advised to wear loose, light-coloured long-sleeved tops and trousers, and apply DEET-containing insect repellent on exposed parts of the body and clothing. Travellers returning from areas affected by mosquito-borne diseases should apply insect repellent for 14 days upon arrival in Hong Kong. The departments will closely monitor the situation of mosquito infestation as reflected by the surveillance indices, and continue to update the list of mosquito infestation hotspots to facilitate adjustments and deployment based on the actual situation, ensuring prompt and effective mosquito prevention and control work. The FEHD will continue to convene meetings of the inter-departmental task forces on anti-mosquito work in the district to co-ordinate frontline departments and stakeholders for mosquito control, including eliminating potential mosquito breeding places before the rainy season, as well as conducting fogging operations in a timely and concerted manner until the end of the rainy season, to mitigate the risk of mosquito-borne disease transmission. In addition, the FEHD, in collaboration with the Education Bureau (EDB), will progressively install new mosquito trapping devices (MTDs) in secondary schools, primary schools and special schools registered with the EDB, to further strengthen mosquito prevention and control on campuses. Representatives from the EDB also shared that schools generally welcome the installation of the MTDs on their campuses.

Rodent control
 
     ​Since 2024, the FEHD has fully adopted thermal imaging cameras with artificial intelligence technology to monitor rodent activity and enumerate Rodent Absence Rate, to more accurately reflect the situation of rodent infestation. At the meeting, the FEHD presented the mechanism and considerations for installing thermal imaging cameras at the selected locations during each round of Rodent Activity Surveys (RAS) to capture infestation conditions, and explained how the FEHD utilises data on rodent infestations and locations derived from the new technology to collaborate with other departments, local businesses and residents in implementing more targeted measures to enhance the efficiency of rodent control. Representatives from the Housing Department (HD) and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) also reported on how they have deployed data-driven strategies to prevent and control rodent infestations and the results achieved, following the extension of RAS to include public rental housing estates, parks and recreational facilities under their respective purview.
 
     The FEHD launched the Charter in December 2024, inviting property management companies, owners’ corporations and residents’ organisations of private residential premises to participate and work together to create rodent-free environments. As at February this year, more than 770 organisations and groups have signed the Charter, covering about 720 000 households. Since the launch of the Charter, the FEHD has actively collaborated with stakeholders, including working with the Property Management Services Authority, and encouraging more estate property management companies and owners’ corporations to sign the Charter through the HD and the Hong Kong Housing Society. In January this year, the FEHD launched the Anti-rodent Partner Awards 2026 to commend premises that have performed excellently in rodent control work. Through this commendation, the FEHD aims to continue to raise community awareness of rodent prevention and control, strengthen collaboration, and jointly create a clean and hygienic living environment. The FEHD will further expand the coverage of the Charter to include property management companies of shopping centres, enhancing the sustained benefits of the Charter and strengthening the overall rodent control effectiveness in the community.
 
     The Environment and Ecology Bureau will continue to co-ordinate the “Cross-sectoral Territory-wide Anti-rodent Action”, implementing all-rounded rodent control measures with cross-sector, multi-disciplinary and community involvement.
      
     The meeting today was chaired by the Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong. Government bureaux, departments and organisations attending the meeting were the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department; the Architectural Services Department; the Buildings Department; the Civil Engineering and Development Department; the Development Bureau; the DH; the Drainage Services Department; the EDB; the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department; the Environmental Protection Department; the FEHD; the Government Property Agency; the Hospital Authority; the Home Affairs Department; the HD; the Highways Department; the Information Services Department; the Lands Department; the LCSD; the Social Welfare Department and the Water Supplies Department.
Issued at HKT 20:10

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Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes       
     Customs officers intercepted an incoming 75-year-old male passenger at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on March 21 and seized 1 781 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $7,300 and a duty potential of about $5,800, from his personal baggage. He was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to 12 weeks’ imprisonment and fined $1,800 by the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today.
      
     On the same day, Customs officers intercepted a 48-year-old incoming female passenger and her accompanying teenager at the Lo Wu Control Point and seized 5 781 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $24,000 and a duty potential of about $19,000, from their personal baggage. The female passenger was subsequently arrested. She was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment and fined $1,500 by the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today.
      
     In addition, Customs officers intercepted a 43-year-old incoming male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (March 22) and seized about 67 200 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $302,000 and a duty potential of about $222,000, from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts today.
      
     Customs welcomes the sentences. The custodial sentences have imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflect the seriousness of the offences.
      
     Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence.  The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
      
     Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hkIssued at HKT 19:00

Dates announced for second and third rounds of evidential hearings of Independent Committee in relation to fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po and online pre-registration for public observation of second round of hearings 
     The Independent Committee in relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po announced today (March 23) that it will hold the second and third rounds of evidential hearings, comprising 13 sessions in total, in April to receive evidence. The evidential hearings will be conducted in Cantonese from 10am to 1pm and from 2.15pm to 4.30pm at the Multi-purpose Hall, 3/F, City Gallery, 3 Edinburgh Place, Central. Simultaneous interpretation in Putonghua and English will be provided in the City Gallery. Members of the public may pre-register for selected hearings that they wish to observe via the online system.
 
     The Committee will hear evidence in the evidential hearings on matters in accordance with its terms of reference. The Committee aims to clarify the relevant facts through oral evidence, written submissions, and other forms of evidence presented by witnesses. This will provide an important basis for the preparation of its report and recommendations.
 
     The schedule for the second round of six evidential hearings is as follows: