The Centre for Food Safety (CFS), established in 2006, is tasked to enhance food safety regulatory functions with an aim to raise public confidence in food safety.
The CFS has nine sections responsible for various tasks, including food surveillance and certification, exercising import control and conducting inspections and tests on live food animals, assessing risks of certain categories of food, and disseminating food safety information. It also investigates food poisoning outbreaks on food premises and advises on food standards.
Safety Control of Imported Food
As most food supplies originate from outside Hong Kong, import control is an important part of the CFS's work.
The control process - comprising a pre-entry licensing system, verification of health documents and surveillance at import control points - basically applies to certain categories of high-risk food, such as game, meat, poultry, eggs, milk and frozen confections.
Safety Control of Imported Food in 2016
| Applications approved for import licence for frozen/chilled meat and poultry | 112,155 |
| Applications approved for import of game, meat, poultry and eggs | 3,844 |
| Applications approved for import of milk and milk products | 532 |
| Applications approved for import of frozen confections | 264 |
| Number of vehicles carrying vegetables inspected by the Man Kam To Food Control Office | 33,643 |
Part of the day-to-day task of ensuring food safety involves close liaison with consulates, Mainland and overseas food authorities, importers, the Customs and Excise Department and other relevant organisations.
Food Surveillance and Handling Food Complaints
Continuous monitoring, testing and law enforcement are keys to ensuring the safety of Hong Kong's food supplies. Food samples are tested at every stage in the supply process: from import and manufacture to wholesale and retail.
During the year, over 65,400 samples of food were taken for testing, which is about nine samples for every 1,000 people in Hong Kong.
Food samples undergo microbiological examinations, chemical analyses and radiation level tests to assess their conformity to legal standards and labelling requirements.
The Man Kam To Food Laboratory provides expeditious and comprehensive testing services, mainly on fresh produce imported from the Mainland. The testing services are divided into three categories:
(i) Analysis of pesticide residues in fresh vegetables and fruits. Testing parameters include isocarbophos, methamidophos and other organophosphorous pesticides, N-methyl carbamates and pyrethroids.
(ii) Analysis of veterinary drug residues in raw milk. Testing parameters include aminoglycosides, beta-lactams, chloramphenicol, ceftiofur, lincomycin, macrolides, polypeptides, quinolones, sulfonamides, synthetic hormones, tetracyclines and trimethoprim.
(iii) Analysis of melamine in samples of raw milk and pasteurised milk imported from the Mainland.
Enforcement actions are taken against unsatisfactory surveillance results. The data collected through the Food Surveillance Programme is also reviewed and analysed regularly to help topical studies, in addition to assessing the risk of specific foods and formulation of food safety strategies.
In 2016, a total of 5,541 food complaints were handled.
Statistics on the Food Surveillance Programme in 2016
(A) Testing of food samples
| Testing | Number# | Percentage# |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical | ||
| Test conducted | 44,613 | - |
| Satisfactory | 44,489 | 99.7% |
| Microbiological | ||
| Test conducted | 15,528 | - |
| Satisfactory | 15,500 | 99.8% |
| Radiation level | ||
| Test conducted | 5,377 | - |
| Satisfactory | 5,377 | 100% |
# Excluding 73,699 samples of imported Japanese food tested for radiation level in 2016.
(B) Enforcement of food labelling
| Food labels inspected | 55,078 |
| Prosecutions taken out | 51 |
Management of Food Incidents
The CFS monitors food incidents, both local and overseas, on a daily basis. Around 1,800 food incidents were identified in 2016. Upon identifying food incidents, the CFS will consider factors such as risk to consumers, local regulations and availability of the concerned food product before deciding on the most appropriate risk management actions.
Besides, the CFS will communicate with related health authorities, importers and distributors on the food incidents. If necessary, the CFS will take actions such as requesting the trade to stop sale, conducting testing as and when appropriate, warning the trade concerned and direct recall of products in question. The CFS will issue rapid alert to traders and inform them of the latest situation. It will also issue press releases to provide advice for consumers if the food incidents are of major public health concern locally. "Food Incident Post" might also be issued on the CFS website if it is anticipated that related food products might be acquired through e-trade, travel, or other personal reasons. A total of 32 trade alerts, 42 press releases on food incidents and 183 food incident posts were issued by the CFS in 2016.
Staffed by doctors and nurses, the Food Incidents Response and Management Unit of the Risk Management Section, in collaboration with the Centre for Health Protection, investigates outbreaks of food poisoning and food-borne infectious diseases on food premises, identifies the contributing factors and assists in tracing sources of suspected food. The unit also educates the food handlers about food, personal and environmental hygiene. Around 200 investigations of food premises involved in foodborne disease outbreaks were carried out by the unit in 2016. The most commonly implicated causative agents in food poisoning outbreaks related to food premises were Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Salmonella, Clostridium perfringens, Bacillus cereus and Norovirus. The contributing factors more frequently identified during investigations included contamination by raw food, inadequate cooking, raw food consumed/ contaminated raw food and improper holding temperature.
Enforcement of Food Safety Ordinance
The Food Safety Ordinance (Chapter 612) (the Ordinance), which strengthens food safety control to protect public health, commenced full operation on 1 February 2012. The Ordinance introduces a food tracing mechanism to help the Government trace the source of the food more effectively and take prompt action when dealing with food incidents. The food tracing mechanism includes a registration scheme for food importers and food distributors and a record-keeping requirement relating to movement of food. Under the Ordinance, food importers and distributors, other than those who have already registered or obtained a licence under other ordinances listed at Schedule 1 of the Ordinance, have to register with the Department. The Ordinance also provides power for the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene to make food safety orders to prohibit the import and supply of problem food and order the recall of such food. By the end of 2016, 11,276 food importers and 9,219 food distributors have been registered.
Imported Game, Meat, Poultry and Eggs Regulations
The amended Imported Game, Meat, Poultry and Eggs Regulations (Cap. 132AK) (the Regulations) came into operation on 5 December 2015 to regulate the import of eggs, with the aim of better protecting Hong Kong from the threat of avian influenza (AI).
As eggs from infected birds could be contaminated with AI, regulating the import of poultry eggs will strengthen control of AI and further protect the health of Hong Kong people, which is also in line with international practices.
Under the new regulatory arrangement, no one can import eggs into Hong Kong unless they produce a health certificate issued by an issuing entity from the place of origin recognised by the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene to certify that the eggs are fit for human consumption; and obtain a permission in writing from a health officer of the FEHD by providing relevant information on the import of eggs to facilitate the CFS to track the actual importation and conduct surveillance on the eggs. Fully cooked eggs and eggs that constitute one of the ingredients of a compounded food item are excluded.
Anyone in breach of the Regulations following implementation will be liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment.
Food Safety Control of Live Food Animals
The Veterinary Public Health Section (VPHS) and the Slaughterhouse (Veterinary) Section are mainly responsible for import control and conducting disease surveillance programmes on live food animals with public health significance.
Implementing the concept of "from farm to table", veterinary staff members visit registered farms exporting to Hong Kong to understand their husbandry practices. In 2016, VPHS inspected a total of 53 registered and associated farms and 43 processing plants on the Mainland. These included farms of chickens, ducks, pigeons, pigs, cattle, goat, eels and freshwater fish.
During the year, 0.6 million live chickens and other poultry were imported into Hong Kong. These animals were subjected to quarantine and inspection procedures by VPHS staff at the designated entry point -- Man Kam To Control Point.
Number of imported food poultry inspected and blood samples tested in 2016
| Type of poultry | No. of poultry imported | Samples taken from imported live poultry for testing of avian influenza (AI) (including H5 and H7) | No. of animal health certificates verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chickens and other poultry | approx. 622,600 | 11,179 | 448 |
Number of local and imported food animals inspected in 2016
| Type of animal | No. of animals inspected | No. of animal health certificates verified |
|---|---|---|
| Pigs | 1,527,516 | 35,607 health certificates and 7,149 admission forms for local pigs |
| Cattle | 17,493 | 1,626 health certificates |
| Goats | 3,396 | 31 health certificates |
| No. of urine samples collected in food animals for testing of prohibited and restricted chemicals | 45,017 |
The Public Health (Animals and Birds) (Chemical Residues) Regulation prohibits the use of certain chemicals, including clenbuterol, and restricts the residue levels of a number of chemicals in food animals. In 2016, two consignments of pigs were tested positive for prohibited chemicals during the urine compliance tests. During the same period, 7,524 tissues and blood samples were collected from food animals for testing of veterinary drug residues and for disease surveillance. None was tested positive for restricted chemicals during the tissue compliance tests.
The Quarantine Detector Dog Unit assists in interdicting illegal import of raw meat and eggs at all land border control points by means of hand-carries by inbound passengers as well as mass transit by trucks. The unit serves to safeguard public health by avoiding meat and eggs from unknown sources, which may contain contagious and zoonotic pathogens such as E. coli O157 and avian influenza, to be imported into Hong Kong. There are four quarantine detector dogs in the unit. During the year, a total of 82 illegal meat and eggs import cases were detected.
Types of food and number of cases detected by quarantine detector dogs in 2016
| Types of raw meat | No. of cases | Quantity (kg) |
|---|---|---|
| Meat | 38 | 111.733 |
| Poultry | 7 | 18.55 |
| Eggs | 4 | 9.38 |
| Assorted Eggs, Meat and Poultry | 33 | 195.15 |
For the export of food products of animal origin, 127 veterinary health certificates were issued for products such as chicken powder, ice cream, mooncakes, Chinese dim sum, milk beverages and instant noodle. The value of these products totaled $116 million. They were exported to Mainland China, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Macao, New Zealand, the Netherlands, UK and USA.
Risk Assessment
Risk assessment forms the scientific basis, in a risk-based food safety control model, for risk management and risk communication. It includes systematic estimation and evaluation of the likelihood and severity of the adverse health effects resulting from exposure to food-borne hazards based on the best available scientific evidence. A typical risk assessment consists of four steps - hazard identification, hazard characterisation, exposure assessment and risk characterisation.
Researches, projects and literature studies are part of the CFS's risk assessment work. In addition, food safety incidents and issues, both inside and outside Hong Kong, are monitored and assessed on a daily basis. These allow the CFS to respond promptly and proactively in order to protect the public from exposing to hazards that are considered harmful to humans.
Risk Assessment Projects
During 2016, the CFS embarked on several risk assessment projects, namely: "Aluminium in Food (A follow up study)", "Pyrrolizidine Alkaoids in Food", "Sodium Content in Soups" and "Sugar Content in Local Sweet Soups", with the latter two studies conducted jointly with the Consumer Council. Information on food risk is provided to the public through a series of "Risk-in-brief" (RIB) papers, which are posted on the CFS website. In 2016, new issues of RIB on "Microplastics in Seafood", "Malachite Green in Foods", "Red Swamp Crayfish, Rhabdomyolysis and Haff Disease" were released.
Food Consumption Survey
The CFS commissioned the Chinese University of Hong Kong to conduct the first population-based food consumption survey in 2005-2007. Due to changes of dietary habits over time, it is necessary to update food consumption survey data from time to time. The CFS is planning the Second Food Consumption Survey. Results of the survey can enhance the capacity of risk assessment work and facilitate the conduct of future Total Diet Study.
Total Diet Study
Total Diet Study (TDS) is internationally recognised as one of the most cost-effective ways to estimate the dietary exposure to a range of chemicals or nutrients of different population sub-groups. It allows the CFS to proactively assess whether specific chemicals would pose a risk to public health. In addition, it provides a scientific basis for formulating food safety strategies, undertaking surveillance and monitoring of food and food products, establishing regulatory standards for food and identifying deficiencies in the food safety regulatory regime. Moreover, as TDS also measures the amount of chemicals ingested by people of different age and sex groups, it enables the identification of the population groups that are most vulnerable and facilitates the formulation of action plans tailor-made for these groups. The first Hong Kong TDS was completed in 2014, with a total of nine reports released since 2011.
Nutrition Labelling
To assist consumers to make healthier food choices, encourage the trade to adopt sound nutritional principles in food production and regulate misleading or deceptive nutrition claims, a Nutrition Labelling Scheme (the Scheme) was launched. The Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) (Amendment: Requirements for Nutrition Labelling and Nutrition Claim) Regulation 2008 (the Amendment Regulation) was enacted by the Legislative Council on 28 May 2008 and the Scheme has been implemented smoothly since 1 July 2010.
In order to assist the trade and laboratory service providers to understand and comply with the Scheme, online resources (including technical guidance notes, trade guidelines, frequently asked questions, Nutrition Label Calculator, etc.), telephone hotline and helpdesk service are provided to traders. A prepackaged food product with annual sales volume not exceeding 30,000 units, which does not carry nutrition claims on its label or in any advertisement, can be exempted from the nutrition labeling requirements stipulated in the Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations (Cap. 132W) under the Small Volume Exemption scheme. As of the end of 2016, 16,912 products are exempted.
On the education front, the CFS continued its publicity and education efforts in promoting the Nutrition Labelling Scheme.
Formula products and foods intended for infants and young children under the age of 36 months
The Legislative Council has completed its vetting of the Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulation 2014 in October 2014. The Regulation comprises requirements on nutritional composition of infant formulae and nutrition labelling of infant formulae, follow-up formulae and prepackaged food for infants and young children. The requirements on nutritional composition and nutrition labelling of infant formulae came into operation on 13 December 2015 after a 18-month grace period. The requirements on nutrition labelling of follow-up formulae and prepackaged food for infants and young children came into operation on 13 June 2016 after a two-year grace period.
In order to better protect the health of infants and young children under the age of 36 months, and to facilitate effective regulatory control over nutrition and health claims on formula products and prepackaged food for infants and young children, the Government is working on legislative proposals for nutrition and health claims on these products taking into account views expressed during the public consultations and the latest international development.
Nutrient Information Inquiry System
The Nutrient Information Inquiry System (NIIS) is a web-based searchable database containing nutrient information (including energy and 18 nutrients) on over 7,000 food items which are of relevance and interest to the local community. It is available free of charge with two functions: a Food Nutrient Finder (for people who want to browse and search for information about a specific food or nutrient) and a Food Nutrient Calculator (for people who want to estimate the nutrient intake from selected foods using the available data from NIIS). The information provided is for personal non-commercial use and reference to make healthy food choices. New foods and more interactive features (e.g. information display, food/ nutrient selection) are added in the Food Nutrient Finder. Besides energy and 18 nutrients, trans fat (also in the main database), iodine and alcohol (for alcoholic beverages only) in some local foods are also presented in separate tables, if available.
Food Standards
Setting food standards is an integral part of risk management in food safety. In setting new local food standards, the CFS takes reference from international food standards established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, and scientific evaluations performed by internationally recognised authorities, such as the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations/World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), and the Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR).
To better protect public health, facilitate effective regulatory control of pesticide residues in food and promote harmonisation between local and international standards, the Pesticide Residues in Food Regulation (Cap. 132CM) (the Regulation), made by the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene commenced on 1 August 2014. The CFS has been providing briefings, training and guidelines for different sectors and enhanced the Pesticide MRL Database in the CFS website to facilitate stakeholders to search maximum residue limits (MRLs) for interested food commodities.
In 2011, the CFS commenced work to review the Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations (Cap. 132V). A designated Working Group under the Expert Committee was formed and continued to give advice on the task.
In response to local food safety issues triggered by the substandard lard incident in Taiwan in 2014, the Administration has decided to step up regulation of the safety of edible fats and oils and the recycling of "waste cooking oils". After the three-month public consultation on the legislative proposals to regulate edible fats and oils and the recycling of "waste cooking oils", the Government continued the work on the legislative proposals and will put forward the legislation once finalized.
Genetically Modified Food
Genetically modified (GM) food refers to food or a food ingredient that is, or is derived from, an organism in which genetic material has been modified using modern biotechnology. GM food currently available in the international market has passed safety assessments of food safety regulatory authorities and is not likely to present risks to human health.
Since July 2006, the CFS has issued "Guidelines for Voluntary Labelling of GM Food" to the trade, encouraging the trade to adopt a voluntary labelling system for GM food. In collaboration with the Government Laboratory, two quantitative GM food testing methods were developed during the year under the capacity building programme. The CFS also focuses on public education on GM food. Relevant information is conveyed to the public through publications such as GM Food Newsletter.
Risk Communication
Effective communication with stakeholders is of pivotal importance in the area of food safety. Adopting a risk analysis approach in food safety control, the CFS recognises that communication is a crucial two-way process and that tripartite collaboration among the food trade, the public and the Government is vital in upholding food safety in Hong Kong. The Risk Communication Section provides the point of contact for stakeholders as well as operates various forms of interactive forums, platforms and programmes to enable the food trade and the public to actively contribute to food safety.
The Trade Consultation Forum, first held in July 2006, has become a regular function for the trade to meet with the Centre to exchange latest information, views and developments in food safety. It is held five to six times a year to collect views on food safety matters and comments on food safety control measures as well as risk communication activities. As for the consumers, the Centre works actively with the Consumer Liaison Group (CLG) to collect feedbacks and suggestions on various food safety issues. Enrolled on a voluntary basis, members of the Group communicate with the Centre from time to time through various forms of meetings as well as formal and informal communications to help shape the Centre's communication strategies.
To promote healthy diets with less salt and sugar, the Government set up an International Advisory Panel on Reduction of Dietary Sodium and Sugar in early 2014 with five renowned experts from the Mainland and overseas as members. In March 2015, the Panel was retitled to International Advisory Panel (IAP) on Reduction of Salt and Sugar in Food. IAP members have shared experience in other jurisdictions and offer professional advice on the reduction of salt and sugar intake by the population in Hong Kong. The fourth meeting of IAP was held in Hong Kong on November 17, 2016.
In order to assist the public to reduce dietary intake of salt and sugar, the CFS has launched a programme titled "Hong Kong's Action on Salt and Sugar Reduction". Through various communication tools and publicity activities, the programme emphasises the importance of salt and sugar reduction and encourages the public to develop and practise healthy dietary habits. Communication channels include public announcements on television and radio, media interviews, leaflets, posters, websites, Facebook pages, mobile application, roving exhibition, talks and seminars etc. The "Hong Kong's Action on Salt and Sugar Reduction Facebook page" was launched in 2015 to promote healthy eating with less salt and sugar to the general public and the food trade.
On top of that, the CFS co-organised with the Education Bureau the "Junior Chefs' Culinary Ideas of Salt and Sugar Reduction Competition", with the support from the Committee on Salt and Sugar Reduction in Food, the Chinese Culinary Institute and the Committee on Home-School Co-operation, to explore practical ideas of preparing food with reduced salt and sugar without losing flavour and encourage the application of food safety tips when preparing food so as to promote healthy eating and habits of applying food safety practices. The Nutrition Labelling Scheme was also promoted through the activity by providing educational material on the use of nutrition labelling to the applicants for preparing the recipes.
The CFS organised the Food Safety Day 2016 at the Arts & Technology Education Centre. The theme of "Hong Kong's Action on Salt and Sugar Reduction - Healthy Cooking Starts Small" was also adopted for the event with a view to driving home the message through tripartite collaboration among the Government, the food trade and the public. The final adjudication of the Junior Chefs' Culinary Ideas of Salt and Sugar Reduction Competition and Award Presentation Ceremony were also held in this event.
The Food Safety Charter has been jointly developed by the CFS and the food trade since 2008. It facilitates the food trade to incorporate appropriate measures in their day-to-day practices and encourages the trade to commit to providing quality services grounded on food safety to their patrons. The year 2016 is the first year within the new three-year term of 2016 - 18. As at end-December 2016, a total of 14 food trade associations and 915 licensed food premises have signed up to the Charter. Members of the public can identify the signatories by the Food Safety Charter certificates and stickers on display in their food premises. Since 2014, the signatories have been invited to participate in the "Reduce Salt, Sugar, Oil. We Do!" programme by preparing food with less salt, sugar or oil and creating an environment conducive for customers to make healthier choices.
The CFS has been designated as a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre (WHOCC) for Risk Analysis of Chemicals in Food since October 2010. As a WHOCC, the CFS continues to contribute to the public health especially in food safety at the regional level, and support WHO activities under the designated activity areas.
The Risk Communication Section has also put in place a range of mechanisms to keep the public and the trade informed of food safety issues in a timely and proactive manner. The "Rapid Alert System" delivers prompt email/fax messages to the food trade explaining food incidents, providing advice and enquiry phone numbers. Food alerts are issued on the CFS website and via electronic means when food incidents of major public health concern are identified. "The Food Incident Post" on the CFS website presents overseas food safety incidents that do not have major impact on local population. The monthly electronic publication "Food Safety Focus", also posted on the CFS website, covers current local and overseas food safety issues and actions undertaken by the CFS. It also provides professional and easy-to-understand information on various food hazards and related public health risks. Quarterly publications, "Food Safety Bulletin" and "Food Safety Express", target the general public and the trade respectively. Information on food safety and health is also disseminated through the social media such as Facebook and YouTube to facilitate communication and interaction with the public. Starting from 2009, the CFS issues the Food Safety Reports monthly instead of bimonthly. In addition, reports on seven Seasonal Food Surveillance projects and five Targeted Food Surveillance were issued in 2016. The CFS also publicises the results of risk assessment studies and handles enquiries on food safety. The fortnightly e-news helps subscribers to keep abreast of the latest activities organised by the CFS and updated information/reports on food safety.
The CFS maintains a wide range of resource materials including guidelines, pamphlets, posters and exhibition boards, as well as topical giveaway items for consumption of the public and the trade. Members of the public may also contact the Communication Resource Unit of the Section for customised support on food safety initiatives.
Summary of Risk Communication Activities in 2016
| Item | 2016 |
|---|---|
| No. of educational/publicity programmes organised | 14 |
| No. of resource materials produced | 47 |
| Total attendance at public education/communication activities | 157,375 |
| No. of public enquiries handled | 3,645 |
| No. of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) seminars/workshops | 33 |
| Seasonal Food Surveillance |
|---|
| Lunar New Year food |
| Rice Dumplings |
| Mooncakes |
| Hairy Crabs |
| Lap-Mei |
| Poon Choi |
| Hotpot |
| Targeted Food Surveillance |
|---|
| Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Ready-to-eat Food |
| Salmonella in Ready-to-eat Food |
| Coagulase-positive staphylococci organisms in Ready-to-eat Food |
| Listeria monocytogenes in Ready-to-eat Food |
| Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens in Ready-to-eat Food |
HACCP-based Food Safety Plan
The adoption of a food safety plan (FSP) was continually promoted during the year. The FSP is a proactive food safety assurance model based on the principles of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP). Promotional programmes are devised for specific trade sectors, including "poon choi" suppliers, caterers for elderly homes, schools and child-care centres and food premises selling siu mei, supplying lunch boxes, sushi, sashimi, raw oyster, meat to be eaten raw and frozen confections. Workshops and seminars are organised for managerial and operational staff of the target groups.
Members of the public have also been included in the publicity programme as a better informed public is an added incentive for the trade to implement HACCP principles.
Food hygiene seminars and workshops were held throughout the year to introduce the concept of food risk and to highlight the FSP as an important risk management measure for the trade and the public.
Pest Control
The FEHD is the Government's adviser on pest control matters and is responsible for handling problems of pests affecting public health. In meeting this goal, the Department adopts an integrated approach, putting equal emphasis on the effective use of pesticides and continuous improvements in environmental hygiene. It regularly updates its control methodologies and technologies, making reference to the latest recommendations of the WHO. The Department works closely with the pest control trade in upholding the professional standards of pest control practices by offering expert advice and support.
Management of vector-borne diseases
Vector-borne diseases, including malaria, dengue fever, Zika virus infection, Japanese encephalitis (JE), chikungunya fever, plague, scrub typhus, urban typhus, spotted fever and hantaan disease, continue to pose a threat to Hong Kong. Working with the Department of Health, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and the Home Affairs Department, the FEHD serves as an executive arm in the prevention and control of the above-mentioned vector-borne diseases. Investigations are initiated immediately once a disease is reported, followed by appropriate vector control measures.
Risk Assessment and Surveillance of Mosquitoes
Hong Kong is under the constant threat of dengue fever. Mosquito breeding grounds in the community and the port areas are monitored continually. The ovitrap indices obtained from these locations are released to the parties concerned and the public to increase community participation in controlling the vector and heighten awareness of the mosquito problem. In 2016, there were 52 areas covered by the dengue vector surveillance programme. Mosquitoes collected from areas with Area Ovitrap Index for Aedes albopictus (AOI) over 10% would be tested for the presence of dengue virus. The average ovitrap index recorded in the community was 4.4%. The highest Monthly Ovitrap Index for Aedes albopictus (MOI) recorded in the community was 13.5% (in June) and the highest port MOI was 3.6% (in May). These reflected that the mosquito problem was under control. In addition, a long-standing control programme against malaria-transmitting mosquitoes, covering some 600 streams, returned favourable results in 2016, revealing no evidence of local transmission of malaria.
JE vector surveillance programme has been conducted since 2013 to monitor the distribution of Culex tritaeniorhynchus at selected areas in Yuen Long district and the programme was extended to cover seven different districts in October 2015. In 2016, a total of 508 Culex tritaeniorhynchuswere collected. No JE virus was detected in these samples but JE virus was found in a sample of Culex quinquefasciatus collected in North district in June.
During the year, the Department conducted 898,169 inspections with 57,103 mosquito breeding places found and eliminated, 80 warning letters issued, and 45 summonses taken out. Legal action was taken against those who allowed mosquitoes to breed on their premises.
In view of the three and four local cases of dengue fever in 2015 and 2016 respectively, and two imported cases of Zika virus infection in 2016, the Department deployed additional anti-mosquito teams to sustain the efforts in mosquito control throughout the winter months till March 2017. Additional resources were deployed to carry out intensive mosquito preventive and control exercises across the territory before the rainy season, and during and after the Olympic and Paralympic Games, with a view to eradicating possibly infected mosquitoes of a whole generation. To prevent the spread of Zika virus in Hong Kong, all samples collected under the dengue vector surveillance programme in port areas and in areas with an Area Ovitrap Index reaching or exceeding 10% will be tested for Zika virus. The Department also stepped up publicity to remind the public of the importance of mosquito control work in all seasons.
Anti-mosquito campaign
An inter-departmental Anti-mosquito Campaign was launched in three phases in 2016. Anti-mosquito measures were strengthened with educational and publicity work, and there was a continued emphasis on eliminating breeding places.
Risk Assessment and Surveillance of Rodents
To keep track of the extent of rodent infestation, rodent infestation surveys have been conducted since 2000. The Rodent Infestation Rate (the percentage of bait consumed by rodents, obtained from different places at different times) is used to assess rodent problems at different places so as to take prompt action to prevent their proliferation. The overall Rodent Infestation Rate obtained in 2016 was 4% which indicated that rodent infestation was under control.
Inspections and disinfestations are also carried out regularly to contain rodent problems. During the year, the Department handled 9,038 reports of rodent problem with 61 written warnings issued, and collected 37,169 dead rodents (13,192 trapped and 23,977 poisoned). More than 8,413 rat holes were filled.
Moreover, the Department monitors the rat-flea index of waterfront and land port areas to assess the risk of plague transmission. The overall rat-flea indices of waterfront and land port areas under surveys in 2016 were 0.09 and zero respectively. Studies were also carried out in industrial areas to monitor the rat-flea situation and the overall rat-flea index was found to be 0.79. (The WHO states that a Rat-flea Index greater than 1 represents an increased plague risk for humans if the plague bacillus has been introduced into a country or region.)
Anti-rodent campaign
In addition to routine rodent control measures, the Department engages community participation in its efforts to control rodents through the annual territory-wide inter-departmental Anti-rodent Campaign. The campaign was promoted through a number of channels, including theme talks and exhibitions.
Airport Disease Vectors Surveillance
Hong Kong is renowned for its vibrant international airport. To ensure that it is free from dengue fever and plague vectors, monitoring stations have been set up at various points in accordance with international health regulations. In 2016, 729 mosquito surveys were conducted, with MOI consistently below 2.5%. The rat-flea index recorded from rat-flea studies was 0.25. A total of 76 advisory letters were issued.
Cross-boundary Co-operation
As infectious diseases know no physical boundaries, close ties have been established among Guangdong Province, Macao and Hong Kong in the fight against such diseases and the disease vectors. In addition to regular meetings between the parties at senior administrative and professional levels, an exchange programme involving professionals from Guangdong and Hong Kong is in place to promote mutual understanding and cross-fertilisation of expertise. Information on disease vectors surveillance in port areas is also exchanged regularly.
Other Pest Control Programmes
Other than mosquitoes and rats, the Department controls, by disinfestations, other pests such as flies, fleas, mites, biting midges, cockroaches, ants, wasps and ticks. In 2016, 70,460 disinfestation operations using pesticides were carried out. Staff are deployed to patrol refuse collection points, rear lanes and hygiene black spots to spray insecticides, as necessary, and remove items attracting flies.