Rats Spotted Again at HKUST Canteen; Students React, University Responds
Thestandard · 4 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A rat was filmed crawling down conduits at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) canteen on Thursday (November 12), startling students who were having lunch at the venue. The incident, captured on video and shared on social media with the caption "HKUST hygiene BE LIKE," shows a large grey-black rat making its way down a pillar while students react with exclamations of shock. This marks the second rodent sighting at the campus in less than a month, with earlier reports emerging from the LG7 canteen in the Lee Kai Shun Business School building. The university has acknowledged the problem and attributed it to construction activity at two nearby sites, while the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has issued pest elimination notices to the university and canteen operator.
Key Points
- A video posted on social media on Thursday showed a rat climbing down conduits on a pillar at HKUST's LG7 canteen in the Lee Kai Shun Business School building
- Students reacted differently: one grabbed his backpack and moved away, while another remained seated and continued eating calmly
- The FEHD received one complaint about rodents at HKUST canteens between August and November 11, issuing a pest elimination notice in October
- After Thursday's sighting, FEHD officers inspected the canteens, found rat traces in shared seating areas, and issued pest elimination notices to both the university and operator
- HKUST stated it does not rule out a link between the rat sightings and construction activity at two nearby sites, and has increased cleaning and pest control measures
Why It Matters
The repeated rat sightings at a major university canteen raise serious food safety concerns for thousands of students and staff who dine there daily. The incident highlights the broader challenge of pest management in urban environments, particularly when construction activity disrupts natural rodent habitats. With the FEHD warning of potential prosecution if pest elimination notices are not complied with, the case underscores the importance of swift and effective action by institutions to maintain hygiene standards in food preparation areas .
The repeated rat sightings at a major university canteen raise serious food safety concerns for thousands of students and staff who dine there daily. The incident highlights the broader challenge of pest management in urban environments, particularly when construction activity disrupts natural rodent habitats. With the FEHD warning of potential prosecution if pest elimination notices are not complied with, the case underscores the importance of swift and effective action by institutions to maintain hygiene standards in food preparation areas .