FEHD launches "Operation Thunderbolt" to combat rodent blackspots through proactive and precise rodent control work
A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (November 12) said that, following the earlier launch of "Operation Skynet" to step up inspections and enforcement targeting food premises, public markets and shopping malls, the department further launched "Operation Thunderbolt" on November 4. Proactively targeting locations with more serious rodent infestation and higher risks, the operation traces rodent nests and main harbourage places along their activity paths, concentrates efforts on targeted rodent eradication, and adopts measures such as rodent trapping, application of rodenticides, and filling rat holes, with a view to swiftly suppressing the rodent population and consolidating effectiveness through source management.
"Operation Thunderbolt" adopts a risk-based and targeted deployment strategy. Integrating rodent activity data, frontline intelligence and actual rodent infestation conditions, the FEHD locks onto targeted locations, traces rodent nests and major aggregation sites along signs of activity such as rat holes and rodent pathways, and shifts from the past practice of focusing on trapping rodents at sighting locations to the further deployment of intensive rodent control measures specifically targeting their harbourage and breeding locations, thereby enhancing overall rodent control efficiency.
For venues managed by other government departments and individual private premises with more serious rodent infestation, taking into consideration public health, the FEHD will proactively intervene based on actual risks and needs, provide targeted rodent control support, and co-ordinate with relevant venue managers to take concerted action to bring the rodent infestation under control as soon as possible. However, the FEHD stressed that relevant venue managers still have to fulfil their own routine management responsibilities by adopting and implementing measures to control rodent infestations.
The focus of the first-phase operation includes high-risk locations such as parks, recreational facilities, green belts, slopes, as well as the rear lanes of restaurants and areas surrounding refuse collection points. Responding to rodent activity conditions, the FEHD will flexibly deploy rat traps and rodenticides, and arrange for overnight rodent control roving teams to step up rodent trapping and eradication during peak rodent activity hours. Upon completion of appropriate rodent control treatments, the department will fill rat holes and access passages, and clear food sources and harbourage places, with a view to more effectively combating rodent infestations.
Since the launch of the operation, the FEHD has conducted targeted inspections at 1 373 locations across the territory, including 1 171 venues under the management of other government departments, such as parks and recreational facilities. During the operation, 199 rat holes/rodent harbourage places were identified at these locations, 103 live rodents were captured and 51 dead rodents were collected, while rodent poisoning and filling of rat holes were completed at 92 locations.
At the same time, the FEHD has also been seriously following up on private premises with severe rodent infestations and monitoring the effectiveness of rodent control work. Regarding the 15 Notices of Elimination of Vermin issued earlier to the responsible persons of an industrial building and related premises on Shing Yip Street in Kwun Tong, follow-up inspections by the department revealed that rodent infestation persisted. The department therefore deployed the overnight rodent control teams to intervene and carry out targeted rodent control work, capturing over 50 rodents on the first night and identifying multiple rodent harbourage places. Anti-rodent operations targeting these harbourage places are still ongoing. The department will consider instituting prosecution against the persons in charge under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132), and recovering the expenses incurred by the department in conducting vermin elimination work.
Considering that some rodents may die in rodent nests or other concealed locations and might not be discovered and counted immediately, the FEHD will comprehensively evaluate the effectiveness of "Operation Thunderbolt" through methods such as tracing and handling active rat holes, monitoring changes in rodent activity, and conducting post-treatment follow-up checks. The department will also adjust its deployment in a timely manner to more effectively control rodent infestations.
"Operation Thunderbolt" focuses on both swift rodent eradication and prevention of recurring rodent infestations. The FEHD will collaborate with relevant government departments and venue managers to step up rodent control while urging all venue managers to continuously maintain proper daily cleanliness, rodent prevention, and facility maintenance. They will also be urged to improve arrangements regarding refuse and food waste handling, rat hole filling and contractor management in light of actual environmental conditions, so as to reduce food sources and harbourage places for rodents at source. The department will also continue to step up rodent prevention and control in public places under its purview, and combat littering and other environmental hygiene irregularities in accordance with the law.
The spokesman said, "While 'Operation Skynet' focuses on stepping up inspections and enforcement to urge food businesses and venue managers to fulfil their hygiene and rodent prevention responsibilities, 'Operation Thunderbolt' takes a further proactive approach by tracing rodent nests along their trails and concentrating efforts on rodent control targeting high-risk locations to suppress rodent infestation more rapidly. The two operations complement each other, reinforcing immediate control and enforcement while prompting venue managers to continuously improve daily management to reduce rodent infestations from the source."
The spokesman stressed that rodent prevention and control requires the joint efforts of all parties. The FEHD will continue to actively monitor, proactively intervene, provide professional support, and enforce the law stringently. In addition, all venue management departments, property management agents and business operators must continuously maintain proper daily cleanliness, rodent prevention and eradication, and source management by cutting off food sources, eliminating harbourage places and blocking access passages. Through precise rodent control to suppress infestation, coupled with sustained and effective venue management to prevent recurrence, a multi-pronged approach is adopted to consolidate and enhance overall prevention and control effectiveness.
Source: AI-found images
