Rat infested abandoned vehicles on government land prompt local residents’ revolt

^{Two of the abandoned cars Photo: BUZZ reader}

A number of cars that have been abandoned at the junction of Tan Cheung Upper and Tan Cheung Lower Village Roads, Sai Kung have lately been infested with rats that are entering neighbouring premises.

Some local residents have written to Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and Home Affairs Department requesting that traps be laid to limit the rat numbers, and that Lands Department arrange to have the vehicles moved.

Following the representations rat traps have been laid, but no removal notices have been posted on the abandoned vehicles. An abandoned motorcycle was recently dumped opposite the two abandoned vehicles.

One of the problems in Hong Kong is that  if a person does not renew an expired vehicle registration, they will no longer be considered the owner, and will not face any liability even if the discarded vehicle occupies or obstructs public roads. Government has announced plans to deal with this loophole.

Recently the Government announced a three-month campaign to clear hygiene blackspots around the city, but no details have been made public on how this effort will affect the many such spots around Sai Kung.