The latest effort to rid Hong Kong of rats will start earlier and last longer than originally planned.
Hygiene chiefs said yesterday that they would move the start of the next phase of the rodent eradication programme from July to May and extend it to seven weeks from the four in the original plan.
The first phase ended in January.
According to Food and Environmental Hygiene Department figures, the infestation rate - as measured by the number of rats attracted to every 100 pieces of bait - dropped from 16 per cent in 2000 to 2.9 per cent in 2006. But the figure rose to 4.8 per cent last year.
'The overall rodent problem in Hong Kong is under control, as reflected by the rodent infestation rate,' FEHD pest control officer-in-charge Yuen Ming-chi said, despite last year's increase.
Noting that the department has staff killing rodents daily, Mr Yuen said inspections would take place along with themed talks and exhibitions to educate the public on handling rodents.