Hong Kong rat complaints match annual total in first 10 months, official says
Hong Kong's Food and Environmental Hygiene Department received about 11,000 rat complaints in the first 10 months of 2026, equalling the typical annual total. An assistant director attributed the rise to environmental factors and widespread media coverage driving public attention.
Hong Kong's Food and Environmental Hygiene Department received about 11,000 complaints involving rat infestations in the first 10 months of this year, matching the number usually received over a full year, according to data released on 13 November.
Assistant Director of the department, Poon Bing-yeung, attributed the increase to environmental factors, such as restaurants and wet markets mishandling food waste, as well as extensive media and social media coverage that raised public awareness. He made the comments on RTHK's radio programme Millennium.
Poon said the latest “Thunder Operation”, launched on 4 November, targets parks and green areas with vegetation. The department aims to precisely locate rat hiding spots, then kill the rats with poison and traps before sealing up burrows. He stressed that environmental management in these areas is crucial, noting that littering, feeding pigeons, and feeding cats or dogs can attract more rats. The department is studying design changes to flowerbeds, including installing wire mesh on the ground, to make it harder for rats to dig burrows. The department will coordinate with other agencies to strengthen management and enforcement depending on the site's nature.
Regarding private premises, Poon said the department proactively investigates complaints. If responsible parties fail to carry out rodent prevention and extermination work, the department issues pest control notices. He cited a recent complaint about a factory building in Kwun Tong, where the department issued more than 10 notices. After finding no improvement, staff intervened and caught nearly 60 rats, describing the situation as serious. Poon linked the problem to neglect by management and building maintenance issues. He said operations were continuing, and the department would consider prosecution and recover related costs.
Chan Pak-chi, a lawmaker for the agriculture and fisheries sector, told the same programme that the government's action to quickly control rat infestations and reduce recurring problems was the right direction. He called for cross-departmental rat extermination efforts and sustained prevention and control work.
