Almost 4,500 complaints received about mosquitoes
A total of 4,477 complaints about mosquitoes were lodged with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department in the first six months of the year.
The figure was revealed by Yuen Ming-chi, the department's pest control officer-in-charge as he spoke on two radio talk shows yesterday morning about the city's mosquito problem.
Comparative figures for the same period last year were not included in information provided by the government, however.
Eighty prosecutions were made from January to July after the detection of mosquito-breeding sites, Mr Yuen said. Half of these were found on construction sites and the rest at residential properties.
As a result of the hot and rainy weather, ovitrap indices were usually high between June and September, Mr Yuen said. He called on the public to remain alert about the mosquito problem and adopt appropriate measures.
Ovitraps had been evenly placed throughout different districts to collect data on the mosquito problem, he added.
The department would use the data to review the effectiveness of anti-mosquito measures in the districts concerned.
Mr Yuen said ovitrap sabotage had been a concern, but data collected at ovitraps that had been tampered with would not be used.
If necessary, the department would refer such incidents to the police for investigation.
