Members of the public raised concerns yesterday about poor hygiene conditions in “three-nil” buildings – those which don’t have an owners’ corporation (OC), no tenants’ organisation, and no property management company (PMC), which has led to rodent infestation, urging the government to assist in dealing with the problem.
Addressing a current affairs phone-in programme, Ou Mun Gwong Cheung, hosted by Ou Mun Tin Toi – the Chinese-language radio channel of public broadcaster TDM, General Union of Neighbourhood Associations of Macau (UGAMM), colloquially known as “Kai Fong” representative Choi Seng Hong said that not just the bureau, members of the public should also dispose of large pieces of refuse as soon as possible to eliminate rodents’ hiding places.
Rodent infestation refers to a situation where there is a significant presence of rodents, such as rats or mice, in a particular area, often leading to various problems.
Choi suggested that tenants of “three-nil” buildings should refer to Hong Kong’s “joint building and joint management” approach by hiring property management companies to clean up common areas, so as to block the channels for rodent infiltration by scientific means.
Choi also said that the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) has been prompting an environment cleaning strategy of leaving mice and rats with no place to hide, nowhere to go, and no food to eat, and that if residents notice the presence of rodents, they can report the situation directly to the bureau through its “IAM Connect” mobile app.
The United Association of Food and Beverage Merchants of Macao’s (UAFBMM) Vice President Fong Kin Fu said that in recent years food businesses have attached greater importance to rodent and pest control, while the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) has been holding food safety seminars for the trade and inspecting the hygiene conditions of food businesses.
However, Fong said, rodent infestation cannot be completely eradicated but can only be prevented, and property owners and building management staff members should pay more attention to the issue and learn from it.
Northern District Community Service Consultative Council Committee Deputy Convener Kou Ngon Fong said that about 1,400 fixed rodent bait boxes have been installed on public streets by the bureau, which to a certain extent covered many streets in Macau, while in private places such as restaurants, everyone needed to cooperate in the rodent disinfestation work.
United Association of Food and Beverage Merchants of Macao (UAFBMM) Vice President Fong Kin Fu (left), Northern District Community Service Consultative Council Committee Deputy Convener Kou Ngon Fong (centre) and General Union of Neighbourhood Associations of Macau (UGAMM) representative Choi Seng Hong pose during yesterday’s phone-in programme hosted by public broadcaster TDM’s Chinese-language radio station, Ou Mun Tin Toi. – Photo courtesy of TDM
