The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) continued its best endeavours to provide quality municipal services for the people of Hong Kong in 2018.

Environmental hygiene

Major incidents

Mangkhut was the strongest typhoon striking Hong Kong over the past few decades. It caused extensive damage and brought about a huge amount of typhoon debris and fallen trees. The concerted efforts of various departments including FEHD and the community were indispensable for Hong Kong to rise above the unprecedented challenges.

Deploying around 8,000 staff each day and additional vehicles, the Department worked closely with other departments and volunteers to quickly clear up typhoon debris and fallen trees at key areas, including carriageways or pavements near populated areas after the passing of Mangkhut. Post-typhoon clearance work was also carried out at coastal areas under FEHD's purview and some remote areas. By late October 2018, the Department cleared a total of over 10,000 tonnes of typhoon debris and collected another 295 lorry-loads of tree waste.

FEHD also participated in the Government's review of the handling of super typhoons, which covered contingency response plans, post-typhoon recovery and restoration. The Department will get prepared for such challenges and stands ready to offer assistance.

The outbreak of local dengue fever (DF) cases in Hong Kong last year was another incident demonstrating the Department's quick response and effective coordination. In response to the 29 DF cases recorded since August 2018, the Department swiftly stepped up mosquito prevention and control work in various districts. Following the closure of the Lion Rock Park which was identified as one of the infection sources, FEHD intensified the anti-mosquito campaign by launching all-out anti-mosquito operations between mid-August and mid-October 2018 throughout the territory. Relevant departments also conducted relevant operations in areas under their purview. Joint operations were carried out on Cheung Chau, which was also identified as one of the infection sources, as well to disseminate information on mosquito control and prevention to the residents.

Moreover, to keep the public abreast of the latest situation of mosquito infestation and facilitate timely implementation of corresponding mosquito prevention and control measures, starting from September 2018, apart from announcing the Area Ovitrap Index and Monthly Ovitrap Index, FEHD releases two additional phased Area Ovitrap Indices every month. The Department is also actively exploring the application of suitable technologies in its mosquito control work, including conducting field tests on a mosquito control product which helps prevent larvae from hatching into adult mosquitoes.

The Government has already advanced the territory-wide all-out anti-mosquito operations to start in mid April this year with the aim of preventing local DF outbreak through concerted actions against mosquitoes ahead of the rainy season.

Keep clean

The Department has been proactively exploring the application of machines and automation in cleansing to enhance environmental hygiene and cleanliness.

In view of the significant improvement on the hygiene condition of blackspots after installation of IP cameras at 115 illegal refuse deposit blackspots since June 2018, FEHD planned to extend the scheme for two years and will progressively install more IP cameras to cover over 300 locations to be selected in consultation with District Councils.

Pressure washer surface cleaners, leaf blowers and mini-mechanical sweepers were introduced in street cleansing services to enhance efficiency in 2018. The Department will continue to explore the installation of 360 degrees cameras at more coastal sites to monitor the accumulation of marine refuse and conduct further trials on the enhanced solar-powered compacting refuse bins and aluminium refuse collection point in rural areas.

Public toilets

The Department has commenced refurbishment or facelifting works at 23 public toilets at major tourist spots progressively since August 2018 with a view to enhancing toilet features or replacing aged facilities. Inspection was also stepped up at 83 public toilets of high usage rate or at major tourist spots, so as to strengthen monitoring of the cleansing work and the hygiene conditions of these public toilets.

The 2019-2020 Budget announced that over $600 million will be allocated to the Department for commencing the refurbishment of about 240 public toilets by phases in the coming five years. This will help enhance their cleanliness and hygiene by improving ventilation and other facilities, such as the provision of cabinet wash hand basin system with a three-in-one set of water tap, soap dispenser and hand dryer. Installation of air-conditioning systems, dehumidifiers and modern deodorising systems will also be put on trial for individual public toilets justified on a case-by-case basis. The Department is mapping out the details of the work programmes with relevant departments with regard to the conditions and level of utilisation of the toilets. We plan to commence the refurbishment or facelifting works for about 40 public toilets in 2019-20.

Rodent control

During the year, FEHD carried out studies and tests on various technologies, such as night vision cameras, thermal imaging cameras and rodent trapping devices driven by pressurised gas with the aim of enhancing the surveillance of rodent activity and the effectiveness of rodent control. To address public concern over rodent problem in public housing estates following the release of a study on human infection by rat hepatitis E virus in September 2018, FEHD assisted the Housing Department to commence anti-rodent operations at designated target areas in two public housing estates to intensify the rodent prevention and control work in late 2018 for 3 months. FEHD also took stringent enforcement action against irregularities of food premises giving rise to rodent infestation problem at rear lanes. The Department will continue to explore and study different methods and technologies to improve the rodent surveillance and control work.

Improving the operating environment of public markets

In taking forward the 10-year Market Modernisation Programme (MMP), specific improvement measures for both the facilities and management of public markets will be formulated in a systematic manner. Having regard to a preliminary assessment, the Department considered that among over 90 existing public markets, there were about 20 public markets having more potential to be accorded priority for inclusion in the MMP. The Department proposed to carry out the overhaul works in phases and the fundamental overhaul for four markets and refurbishment and minor improvement works for at least three markets would be pursued under the first phase. The Department has been actively liaising with the relevant stakeholders with a view to commencing the overhaul of Aberdeen Market, being the pioneering project, as soon as possible and will kick-start the other projects progressively.

The Department has started planning for and development of new public markets in Tung Chung Town Centre and New Town Extension, Tin Shui Wai, Kwu Tung North, Tseung Kwan O and Hung Shui Kiu New Development Areas. Consideration is being given to adopting new approaches to the design, construction and operation of the new markets.

Hawker management

The five-year Hawker Assistance Scheme for licensed fixed-pitch hawkers in the 43 hawker areas was completed in 2018. Financial assistance was offered to 4,329 licensed fixed-pitch hawkers with nearly 99% of the licensed hawkers joining the Scheme. All 508 stalls which were directly in front of staircase discharge points of buildings or places that might obstruct emergency vehicular access were relocated and 3,473 stalls were reconstructed to meet the required fire safety standard. There were also 854 hawkers surrendering their licences for ex-gratia payments. The Scheme not just resulted in a face-lift to the hawker areas, but also largely reduced the fire risks posed by on-street hawking activities.

The Department is considering the re-allocation mechanism for some 400 vacant hawker pitches to facilitate the vibrant development of the trade, the healthy turnover of hawker licences and admission of new traders.

Green Burial and Regulation of Private Columbaria

FEHD has been taking active efforts to increase supply of public niches, promote green burial and regulate private columbaria.

Among the 24 potential sites in 18 districts identified for columbaria development, the Department has secured support from relevant District Councils for 14 projects so far which would provide about 590,000 new public niches in total, accounting for about two-thirds of the total number of new niches under planning in all the potential sites. The Government will expedite the development of public columbaria on these shortlisted sites. In anticipation of the completion of construction work of Tsang Tsui Columbairum and Wong Nai Chung Road Columbarium in 2019, the Department will allocate the extendable niches at the two columbaria in 2019-2020.

In January 2019, the new Garden of Remembrance (GoR) in Kwai Chung was commissioned to facilitate the public to scatter cremated ashes of ancestors while the Green Burial Central Register was also set up to encourage members of the public to plan in advance their after-death arrangements and register their wish for scattering ashes at GoR or designated areas of Hong Kong waters.

In the past year, the Private Columbaria Licensing Board (PCLB) spared no effort to process the applications for specified instruments. By the deadline for submission of applications for specified instruments in respect of pre-cut-off columbaria on 29 March 2018, the PCLB received applications from 144 private columbaria. As at May 2019, the PCLB has granted three licences of private columbaria. So far, the majority of applicants have not submitted all the required supporting documents and information. The Private Columbaria Affairs Office will maintain close contact with them and the relevant departments in order to complete the vetting work and submit the applications to the PCLB for determination as soon as possible. It will also continue to take stringent enforcement actions to combat illegal operation of private columbaria.

Food Safety

Food surveillance and risk assessment

The Food Surveillance Programme implemented by the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of FEHD in 2018 revealed that food safety in Hong Kong remained at a high standard. During the year, in addition to about 93,600 samples of imported Japanese food taken for testing of radiation level, the CFS conducted tests on a total of about 66,000 samples at the import, wholesale and retail level. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.9 per cent, which was comparable to the results in recent years.

In 2018, the CFS released results of several risk assessment projects, namely: "Phthalates in food", "Perchlorate in Tea and Tea Beverages", "Sodium, Total Fat and Trans Fat Contents in Local Bread" and "Sodium and Energy Contents of Asian-style Noodles-in-soup Dishes".

Food Standards and Food Safety Control

In view of the satisfactory radiation test results of Japanese food samples, the CFS adjusted the import control measures on Japanese food from 24 July 2018. The import of vegetables, fruits, milk, milk beverages and dried milk from four Japanese prefectures, namely Ibaraki, Tochigi, Chiba and Gunma, into Hong Kong are permitted with conditions while the import ban on the abovementioned products from Fukushima remains in force. The CFS will continue to conduct radiation tests on food products imported from Japan to safeguard food safety.

To ensure that hairy crabs available for sale at the retail level meet the food safety and hygiene requirements, FEHD requires operators selling hairy crabs to obtain the new Shell Fish (Hairy Crab) Permit or relevant permission starting from 3 September 2018.

The Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) (Amendment) Regulation 2018, which stipulates updated standards for metallic contamination in food, was gazetted in June 2018 and will come into operation on 1 November 2019 by phases.

Reduction of salt and sugar in food

During the year, the CFS, jointly with the Food and Health Bureau and the Committee on Reduction of Salt and Sugar in Food, launched a series of activities, including running a dedicated Facebook page and a new Instagram page on Hong Kong's Action on Salt and Sugar Reduction to promote healthy diet with less salt and sugar, and implementing the "Salt / Sugar" Label Scheme for Prepackaged Food Products to help consumers identify low-salt, low-sugar products more easily. The CFS also commenced its work in food product reformulation in collaboration with the trade.

African Swine Fever

African Swine Fever (ASF) is not a zoonotic disease and will not infect human, hence posing no food safety risk. However, as ASF could cause massive infection and death in pigs within a short period of time, the Government has taken a number of preventive measures since its outbreak in the Mainland in August 2018 to guard against its spread to Hong Kong and ensure sufficient supply of live pigs for consumption.

FEHD has closely monitored the imported pigs accompanied by valid health certificates for any suspected symptoms, carried out stringent ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections at the slaughterhouses, enhanced the biosecurity at boundary checkpoints and slaughterhouses, and stepped up enforcement action with the Customs and Excise Department to crack down on illegal importation of meat. The Department will continue to monitor development, closely liaise with the relevant Mainland authorities, strengthen the surveillance system and remain vigilant in preventing the local spread of ASF.

Audit Report

Following the release of the Director of Audit's Report on management of food safety and import control of foods in November 2018, the CFS has set up a task group this year to take forward the recommendations of the Audit Commission and the Legislative Council Public Accounts Committee. The task group has commenced comprehensive reviews on CFS' operational manuals and guidelines, staff management and supervision arrangements, as well as training and manpower requirements. The CFS has also started to roll out concrete and effective short, medium and long term measures to enhance its effectiveness by phases.

In addition, a dedicated team under CFS has been revamping its information technology (IT) systems for higher efficiency and enhancing its mode of operation through IT to reinforce its capability in food safety control work. Phased improvements to the IT systems will start from end 2019.

The above provides a brief outline of our work in the year of 2018. I would like to express my gratitude to all colleagues for their hard work and strenuous efforts in tackling the challenges over the year. In the year ahead, we will work together to strive for advancement and provide quality municipal services to the public and safeguard food safety with professionalism.

Vivian Lau
Director
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department