Scientist sees rat poison as Sars answer

A scientist is seeking approval to test the use of rat poison as an anti-Sars measure at Lower Ngau Tau Kok Estate.

The poison has been developed by Jeremy Kidner, a scientist and volunteer for the think-tank Civic Exchange.

Civic Exchange researcher Yip Yan-yan, who is in charge of the group's efforts to help clean up the estate, said the scientist wrote to the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department last month asking if the pesticide could be sprayed at the Kowloon Bay housing estate 'because there are lots of rats'.

The revelation came weeks after Stephen Ng Kam-cheung, special lecturer in epidemiology at New York's Columbia University and an adjunct associate professor of community medicine at the Chinese University, went public with his theory that rats were the main factor in the outbreak at Amoy Gardens that killed 42 people.

Ms Yip said Mr Ng was also a volunteer at Civic Exchange, but she could not confirm whether he had any involvement in the development of the pesticide.

Mr Kidner could not be reached for comment yesterday, and nor did the hygiene department respond to questions.