Kwun Tong Industrial Building Rat Infestation Triggers Government Crackdown
HK01 · 3 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A 32-second video uploaded on social media on Wednesday (November 4) showed more than 10 rats swarming around uncovered trash bins outside an industrial building on Cheng Yip Street in Kwun Tong, prompting widespread public concern. A reporter from Sing Tao Daily visited the site at around 1:30 am on Thursday and observed multiple rats climbing on the bins and darting across the pavement, with approximately 20 to 30 large green trash bins present, most without proper lids . The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) responded by deploying its night pest control unit and subsequently issued 15 statutory notices to the building's management demanding elimination of the infestation .
Key Points
- The viral video, reportedly filmed near Yisheng Industrial Centre on Cheng Yip Street, captured over 10 rats actively foraging near trash bins, with a commentator remarking that there could be "a hundred"
- Thursday's on-site inspection revealed about 20 to 30 large green trash bins, most lacking covers, alongside more than 10 rat traps, one of which contained a captured rat
- FEHD's follow-up inspection found "obvious and severe" rat infestation signs inside the building and issued 15 notices requiring responsible parties to eliminate the problem within a specified timeframe
- The area behind the industrial building was cluttered with garbage, construction debris, plastic buckets, and wooden pallets, creating ideal conditions for rat harborage
- According to FEHD records, only one complaint about rat infestation at this building was received in the past year, though the department had subsequently provided pest control guidance
Why It Matters
This incident highlights the persistent challenge of rodent control in Hong Kong's dense urban environment, particularly in areas with mixed industrial and commercial activities where waste management practices can be inadequate . The FEHD's issuance of 15 enforcement notices underscores the seriousness with which authorities view the health and sanitation risks posed by rat infestations in populated areas . The widespread public reaction and online discussion suggest growing community awareness and demand for accountability regarding environmental hygiene standards in Hong Kong.
This incident highlights the persistent challenge of rodent control in Hong Kong's dense urban environment, particularly in areas with mixed industrial and commercial activities where waste management practices can be inadequate . The FEHD's issuance of 15 enforcement notices underscores the seriousness with which authorities view the health and sanitation risks posed by rat infestations in populated areas . The widespread public reaction and online discussion suggest growing community awareness and demand for accountability regarding environmental hygiene standards in Hong Kong.