Spitters and litterbugs are being watched, as businesses receive warnings
Undercover officers were despatched for the first time yesterday to catch spitters and litterbugs, a day after the government announced its ambitious programme to make Hong Kong a model hygiene city in the aftermath of Sars.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department yesterday also sent 18,000 warning letters to restaurants, food factories, canteens and wet-market vendors ordering them to clean up or face tough enforcement action.
A team of about 45 plain clothes officers was despatched to public areas such as MTR entrances, bus stops and wet markets. They are new additions to the department's existing force of about 4,000 uniformed officers who also enforce rules against putting up illegal posters and failing to pick up after pet dogs.
The undercover agents yesterday gave out 25 littering fines and six for spitting, and issued one court summons for littering.
A department spokesman said that from Thursday next week, it will increase daily inspections and conduct 'blitz operations'.
'The move is aimed at enhancing the cleanliness and tidiness of our markets, cooked-food centres and bazaars,' he said.
