Updated at 6.34pm: Health Welfare and Food Secretary York Chow said on Wednesday rodent numbers in Hong Kong were now falling.
He was speaking in the Legislative Council, in reply to a question by the Honourable Sophie Leung Lau Yau-fun. Ms Leung, who serves as the representative of the textiles and garment functional constituency, said people were still concerned about rodent numbers.
?Recently, several members of the public have told me that large rodents had been spotted on the busy streets and near the sewers in Central,? Ms Leung said.
The rodents ? which could transmit disease in residential areas ? usually include rats, mice, voles and gerbils.
Dr Chow replied that the rodent infestation rate of the territory had decreased gradually from 16 per cent in 2000 to 4.1 per cent in 2004. This indicated the overall rodent infestation had improved.
?However, it should be noted that the rodent infestation rate varies in different locations,?? he added.
