The interdepartmental Pest Control Steering Committee (PCSC) held its 19th meeting today (March 14) to review the latest situation of mosquito proliferation and the anti-mosquito work of departments. The PCSC also examined the work progress of departments under the Cross-sectoral Territory-wide Anti-rodent Action (the Action) and planned their anti-rodent work for the future.
 
Mosquito control
 
     The representative of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) reported to the PCSC the situation of mosquito proliferation last year and this year thus far. Last year's mosquito infestation was generally under control, and the overall trend of the gravidtrap index for Aedes albopictus is similar to that of 2023. The indices for January and February 2025 remained low, consistent with the same period in past years. It is anticipated that as the rainy season approaches, the index will rise starting in April as in previous years. The FEHD and the relevant departments have stepped up their mosquito prevention and control work since March 2025. Other than continue eliminating mosquito breeding places, the FEHD will apply larvicides and conduct fogging operations to eradicate adult mosquitoes, and place mosquito trapping devices at suitable locations. The FEHD will continue to conduct on-site inspections with relevant departments, and provide them with professional advice and technical support.
      
     The rainfall in April last year was higher than usual causing the gravidtrap indices in some monitored areas to reach the alert levels. As the hot and rainy weather approaches, combined with the increase in inbound and outbound passenger traffic during the upcoming long holiday, the overall risk of dengue fever may rise. The departments will closely monitor the situation of mosquito infestation as reflected by the surveillance indices, and constantly update the list of mosquito infestation hotspots to adjust and plan their work based on the actual situation to ensure prompt and effective mosquito prevention and control work. The Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, and the Chairperson of the PCSC, Miss Diane Wong, particularly reminded the departments to be well prepared and take proactive mosquito control actions, 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.
 
Rodent control
 
     Under the Action, the FEHD has implemented a series of targeted rodent prevention and control measures, including continuing overnight anti-rodent operations and the application of new anti-rodent technologies and tools, which have gradually shown positive results. The FEHD collected a total of approximately 122 900 live and dead rodents in 2024, marking an increase of around 26 per cent compared to the approximately 97 800 rodents collected in 2023. In 2024, the number of major rodent black spots was reduced by 63, achieving the performance indicator of a 60 per cent reduction as set out in the 2023 Policy Address.
      
     The effectiveness of rodent control also relies on the concerted efforts and active participation of stakeholders from various sectors, including pest control operators in both public and private sectors, venue management (e.g. the management personnel of residential and commercial buildings, recreational facilities, markets and food premises), and the general public, who maintain good hygiene practices and implement timely effective rodent prevention measures. District Environmental Hygiene Offices of the FEHD will continue to extend the scheme of allowing food premises to place large-sized refuse bins from rear lanes to more appropriate locations, and encourage relevant food premises to participate.
      
     In December 2024, the FEHD launched the first phase of the Anti-rodent Charter, targeting residential premises to raise residents' awareness of environmental hygiene and foster good habits to create a rodent-free environment. Residential premises that sign the Charter will be provided with free anti-rodent technical support from the FEHD, including invitations to attend pest control seminars organised by the department. As of now, 578 residential premises have signed the Charter. Based on the practical experiences from the first phase of the Charter, the next phase will focus on locations prone to rodent infestations and their vicinities, including markets, hawker bazaars, typhoon shelters, and rear lanes, to enhance the communities' anti-rodent awareness and encourage proactive actions. The FEHD and district councilors will jointly contact property management companies and vendors to convey rodent control messages more effectively.
      
     Moreover, starting in 2024, the FEHD has fully adopted thermal imaging cameras with AI technology to conduct the Rodent Activity Survey (RAS) and establish a Rodent Absence Rate in each district. The FEHD uses AI to analyse thermal images captured by cameras to detect and understand rodent pathways and activity ranges. This helps assess rodent infestation objectively and effectively to allocate resources precisely for targeted rodent control measures. From 2025, the FEHD's RAS has been extended to public housing estates and parks managed by the Housing Authority and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Relevant departments will have more data to enhance precision in rodent control work and make the survey more representative.
      
     All departments agreed to continue to strengthen rodent prevention and control measures in premises under their respective management, to strengthen internal monitoring and assessment of the outcome of rodent control work, and to actively encourage relevant sectors and stakeholders to co-operate with the Government's work, eliminating rodents' fundamental survival conditions of food, harbourage and passages from their respective areas.
      
     The meeting was chaired by Miss Wong. Participants of the meeting came from three policy bureaux and 20 government departments and organisations.

     Police will implement special traffic arrangements in various districts during Ching Ming Festival period to facilitate grave sweepers, and to ensure smooth vehicular traffic movements and pedestrian safety.

Hong Kong Island
—————-

Chai Wan

     Cape Collinson Road east of Lin Shing Road is designated as a private car and light goods vehicle prohibited zone from 7am to 3pm daily between March 8 and April 27, except for vehicles with permit.

A. Road closure

Phase I

     The following roads will be closed from 7am to 5pm daily on March 22, 23, 29 and 30, and April 5, 6, 12 and 13:

– Southbound Lin Shing Road, except for franchised buses, green minibus (GMB) routes 16A, 16M, 16X and 18M, taxis, hearses, funeral vehicles, vehicles with permit, and vehicles heading to Wan Tsui Estate and Lin Tsui Estate;
– Northbound Lin Shing Road, except for GMB route 18M, hearses, funeral vehicles and vehicles with permit;
– Cape Collinson Road east of Lin Shing Road, except for GMB route 18M, taxis, hearses, funeral vehicles and vehicles with permit;
– Cape Collinson Road west of Lin Shing Road, except for franchised buses, GMB routes 16A, 16M and 16X, taxis, hearses, funeral vehicles and vehicles with permit;
– The slip road leading from Cape Collinson Road to the Garden of Remembrance and the crematorium, except for hearses and vehicles carrying passengers to services at the Crematorium; and
– The slip road leading to Chai Wan Chinese Permanent Cemetery.

Phase II

     The following roads will be closed from 7am to 5pm on April 4:

– Lin Shing Road, except for franchised buses, GMB routes 16A, 16M and 16X, hearses, funeral vehicles, vehicles with permit, and vehicles heading to Wan Tsui Estate and Lin Tsui Estate;
– Cape Collinson Road east of Lin Shing Road, except for hearses, funeral vehicles and vehicles with permit;
– Cape Collinson Road west of Lin Shing Road, except for franchised buses, GMB routes 16A, 16M and 16X, hearses, funeral vehicles and vehicles with permit;
– The slip road leading from Cape Collinson Road to the Garden of Remembrance and the crematorium, except for hearses and vehicles carrying passengers to services at the crematorium;
– The slip road leading to Chai Wan Chinese Permanent Cemetery; and
– Wan Tsui Lane, except for vehicles heading to Hing Wah Plaza.

B. Traffic diversions

– Traffic along eastbound Wan Tsui Road between Fei Tsui Road and Lin Shing Road cannot turn right to Lin Shing Road during the above road closures; and
– Cape Collinson Road between its slip road to the crematorium and Shek O Road will be re-routed one-way westbound during the above road closures and the operation hours of Citybus route 388.

C. No parking

     During the above road closures, no parking will be permitted along the following roads:

– Wan Tsui Road;
– Lin Shing Road;
– Cape Collinson Road; and
– Shek O Road between Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution and Tai Tam Road.

    With the exception of access to Wan Tsui Estate and Lin Tsui Estate, all red minibuses, private cars, goods vehicles, motorcycles, motor tricycles and pedal cycles cannot enter Lin Shing Road during the above road closures, while taxis cannot enter Lin Shing Road during Phase II.

Kowloon
——-

(1) Tseung Kwan O

     The access road at Ko Chiu Road leading to Tseung Kwan O Chinese Permanent Cemetery will be closed from 5.30am to 6pm daily on March 9, 15, 16, 22, 23 and 29, and April 5, 12, 13, 18 to 21, 26 and 27, and May 1, except for special route No. 14S of Kowloon Motor Bus, hearses, funeral vehicles and vehicles with permit.

     The above road will be closed from 5.30am to 8pm daily on March 30, and April 4 and 6.

     Grave sweepers can access the cemetery on foot via the BMCPC Footpath opposite MTR Tiu Keng Leng Station or the access road on Ko Chiu Road. Individuals requiring wheelchair access should enter the cemetery via the Ko Chiu Road entrance.

(2) Cheung Sha Wan

     The following special traffic arrangements will be implemented on March 29 and 30, and April 4 to 6, 12 and 13:

A. Road closure (daily from 7am to 7pm)

     Wing Ming Street and the unnamed road between Wing Ming Street and Saint Raphael’s Catholic Cemetery will be closed, except for hearses, funeral vehicles, vehicles of the cemetery staff and those with permits.

B. No stopping or parking

– Parking will be prohibited on Yu Chau West Street between Castle Peak Road and King Lam Street daily from 7am to 7pm;
– Vehicles are prohibited to pick up or drop off passengers along Yu Chau West Street near Wing Ming Street (outside “83 Wing Hong Street”); and
– Stopping or parking will be prohibited on Ching Cheung Road daily from 7am to 7pm.

C. Suspension of parking spaces (daily from 7am to 7pm)

     All on-street parking spaces on Yu Chau West Street, Tai Nan West Street, King Lam Street between Yu Chau West Street and Tai Nan West Street, and Wing Hong Street between Yu Chau West Street and Tai Nan West Street will be suspended.
 
     Members of the public should access Saint Raphael’s Catholic Cemetery via the subway across Ching Cheung Road from the end of the unnamed road between Wing Ming Street and the cemetery. No parking facilities in the cemetery will be open for public use.

New Territories
—————

(1) Wo Hop Shek

     The following special traffic arrangements will be implemented daily on March 22, 23, 29 and 30, and April 4 to 6, 12, 13, and 18 to 21:

A. Road closure (daily from 6am to 5pm)

– Kiu Tau Road, except for hearses, coaches conveying people attending services at the crematorium, vehicles of the undertakers and franchised buses;
– Ming Yin Road, except for franchised buses;
– Wo Ka Lau Road; and
– All access roads within Wo Hop Shek Cemetery.

B. Traffic diversions

– Traffic along northbound Pak Wo Road near Fung Ying Seen Koon cannot turn right to southbound Pak Wo Road; and
– Traffic along southbound Pak Wo Road near MTR Fanling Station cannot turn right to the car park on Pak Wo Road near Fung Ying Seen Koon.

C. Suspension of parking spaces (daily from 7am to 5pm)

– The car park on Wo Hing Road near Wah Ming Road roundabout, except for taxis;
– The car park on Pak Wo Road near Fung Ying Seen Koon, except for the disabled parking spaces and public buses of the residents’ service route No. NR112. Depending on the prevailing situation, vehicles with elderly and disabled passengers may be allowed to use the car park for boarding shuttle buses that are heading for Wo Hop Shek Cemetery;
– Parking spaces on Wah Ming Lane; and
– Parking spaces at Ming Yin Road between Wo Hop Shek Cemetery Office and Kiu Tau Road.

(2) Sandy Ridge

     The Frontier Closed Area from MTR Lo Wu Station to Lo Wu Station Road will be open to grave sweepers from 6am to 6pm daily between March 22 and April 20.

     The following roads will be closed from 6am to 6pm daily on March 22, 23, 29 and 30, and April 4 to 6, 12, 13 and 18 to 20:

– Lo Wu Station Road, from its junction with Man Kam To Road to a point approximately 280 metres west, near the cemetery management office, except for vehicles of Lo Wu Village residents and those permitted to use the MTR Lo Wu Station car park; and
– Sha Ling Road, except for vehicles of Sha Ling residents.

(3) Castle Peak

     The following traffic arrangements will be implemented from 7am to 7pm daily on March 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30, and April 4 to 6, 12 and 13:

A. Road closure

– Tsing San Path; and
– The access roads leading to Ching Chung Koon and Ching Chung Sin Yuen.

B. Traffic diversions

– Tsing Chung Koon Road between Tsing Lun Road and San Fuk Road will be re-routed one-way northbound; and
– San Fuk Road between Leung Shun Street and Tsing Chung Koon Road will be re-routed one-way westbound.

C. No parking

     No parking will be permitted along the following roads:

– San Fuk Road;
– Tsing Chung Koon Road between Tsing Chung Path and San Fuk Road;
– Tsing Lun Road between Tsun Wen Road and the northern vehicle entrance of Tuen Mun Hospital; and
– Southbound Tsun Wen Road between Tsing Lun Road and San Fuk Road.

D. Passenger pick-up and drop-off points

     Three temporary pick-up and drop-off points will be set up at northbound Tsing Chung Koon Road opposite to Castle Peak Hospital, northbound Tsing Chung Koon Road opposite to Tuen Mun Hospital, and westbound Tsing Lun Road outside Tuen Mun Hospital.

(4) Tsang Tsui

     Nim Wan Road between Yung Long Road and the access road to Tsang Tsui Columbarium will be closed from 7am to 7pm daily on March 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30, and April 4 to 6, 12 and 13, except for franchised buses, MTR buses, taxis, vehicles heading for West New Territories Landfill and T·PARK, and vehicles with permit.

(5) Kwai Tsing

     Wing Yin Street and Wing Hau Street will be closed from 7am to 5pm daily on March 22 and 29, and April 5, 12 and 13, except for hearses and franchised buses.　

     The following traffic arrangements will be implemented from 7am to 5pm daily on March 23 and 30, and April 4 and 6, and when necessary:

– Southbound Wing Tak Street between the entrance of City Point and Wing Shun Street, Wing Yin Street, and Wing Shun Street between Wing Tak Street and Kwai Hei Street will be closed, except for hearses, franchised buses, taxis and GMBs;
– Wing Kei Road between Kwai Hei Street and Wing Kin Road will be re-routed one-way southbound. Vehicles cannot travel via Kwai Hei Street for Wing Kei Road; and
– Wing Hau Street will be closed.

     During the implementation of the special traffic arrangements, any vehicles found illegally parked within the precincts mentioned above will be towed away without prior warning, and may be subject to multiple ticketing.

     Police will implement the above arrangements subject to traffic and crowd conditions in the area. Members of the public are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site.

     The Water Supplies Department (WSD) today (March 14) was awarded the Most Outstanding Award at the 2024 Global Most Innovative Knowledge Enterprise (MIKE) Award Ceremony held in Bangkok, Thailand. Alongside the earlier recognition of the Hong Kong MIKE Award 2024 by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the WSD's outstanding performance in knowledge management and innovation has garnered significant acclaim both locally and internationally.

     The Director of Water Supplies, Mr Roger Wong, attended the ceremony to receive the award. He expressed gratitude to colleagues for their dedication and efforts in implementing knowledge management and promoting the digitisation of water supply services to serve the public with excellent quality water supply services. He remarked that this year marks an important milestone as it is the 60th anniversary of Dongjiang Water Supply to Hong Kong, making the receipt of this international accolade particularly meaningful. During the ceremony, Mr Wong also shared insights on innovation and knowledge management with experts across the world.

     In the winners' report, the judging panel highly praised the WSD for its outstanding performance, particularly noting management's commitment to establishing the Digital Water Office and actively participating in knowledge management initiatives, fully recognising the WSD's efforts in promoting innovation and knowledge management. The panel also specifically commended the WSD for its initiatives in exploring the application of artificial intelligence, developing the Asset Management Information System (AMIS), and implementing Building Information Modelling (BIM).

     Last year, the WSD established the Digital Water Office, merging the divisions responsible for efficiency enhancement, digital modelling, and information systems within the department. The Office is dedicated to driving the digitalisation of water supply services. The Office has formulated a three-phase plan to optimise existing waterworks infrastructure and customer services, providing higher quality and more environmentally friendly water supply services.
     â€‹
     The Global MIKE Award is the highest accolade in the field of knowledge management, organised by the Institute of Knowledge and Innovation, Southeast Asia (IKI-SEA) at Bangkok University. The independent judging panel consists of experienced industry experts and corporate management personnel. This year, a total of 19 organisations received this honor, with three organisations, including the WSD, receiving the Most Outstanding Award. The Global MIKE Award is the most prestigious of its kind in which entries were assessed by 36 international judges through rigorous adjudication. Since 2021, the WSD has consecutively won the Global MIKE Award and the Hong Kong MIKE Award, and last year achieved the Hong Kong Top Winner for the first time.

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed "Contribute", "Fastrack" and "Twilight", and a joint operation with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed "Windsand", for four consecutive days from March 10 to yesterday (March 13). A total of eight suspected illegal workers and one suspected employer were arrested.
 
     During the anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD Task Force officers raided 28 target locations including massage parlours, premises under renovation and restaurants. Eight suspected illegal workers and one suspected employer were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised six men and two women, aged 21 to 43. One man, aged 48, was suspected of employing the illegal worker and was also arrested.
 
     An ImmD spokesman said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."
 
     The spokesman warned, "As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment. As stipulated in section 20(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance, the Chief Executive may make a deportation order against an immigrant, prohibiting the immigrant from being in Hong Kong at any time thereafter if the immigrant has been found guilty in Hong Kong of an offence punishable by imprisonment for not less than two years."
 
     The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
 
     According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman reminded all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.
 
     Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threats and coercion in the recruitment phase and the nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.

     Hong Kong Customs on March 1 and 3 detected four sea smuggling cases involving ocean-going vessels and a river trade vessel at the Kwai Chung Container Terminals and the Tsing Yi Customs Cargo Examination Compound. A large batch of suspected smuggled electronic goods with a total estimated market value of about $355 million was seized.

     Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, Customs officers on March 1 and 3 identified three ocean-going vessels preparing to depart from Hong Kong for Korea, Thailand and Malaysia, and a river trade vessel destined for Guangxi, for inspection. A large batch of suspected smuggled electronic goods, including integrated circuits, monitors, routers, tablets and vehicle spare parts, was seized inside four containers on board the vessels.

     An investigation is ongoing. The likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.

     Customs is the primary law enforcement agency responsible for tackling smuggling activities and has long been combating various smuggling activities on all fronts. Customs will keep up its enforcement action and continue to resolutely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, and carry out targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times to crack down on related crimes.

     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction.

     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).