A cleaner Hong Kong: Government departments enhance the hygienic conditions of public areas.

Six Government departments have joined hands to clean Hong Kong to combat atypical pneumonia.

The departments will enhance cleaning of public areas and facilities and mobilise industries in the community to join the clean up.

The Food & Environmental Hygiene, Home Affairs, Housing, Transport, and Leisure & Cultural Services Departments, along with the Government Property Agency, are taking part.

The department will enhance its street-cleansing programme, deploying over 90 vehicles. It will also boost cleaning in markets and urge occupants to cleanse and disinfect their stalls daily.

The department has distributed to restaurant operators guidelines on handling atypical pneumonia. It has also advised them to pay more attention to the cleanliness of their restaurants' ventilation system.

Home Affairs Department

The department has stepped up its efforts in enhancing community awareness and participation in containing the spread of the disease.

It will send health notices to owners' corporations and mutual-aid committees. Health advice has already been sent to hotels, guesthouses, holiday flats, clubs and bedspace apartments.

Some 100,000 copies of an information leaflet are being distributed through the department's Public Enquiry Service Centres.

A series of talks on preventing atypical pneumonia was launched on March 26. The talks will run until April 3 in Yau Ma Tei, Tsuen Wan, Tai Po, Sha Tin and Wan Chai. For enquiries and reservations, please call the Department of Health at 2961 8673.

Government Property Agency

Government Property Administrator Maria Kwan said they have asked concerned management agencies to enhance the hygienic condition of government properties and offices.

More attention will be given to cleaning common areas such as the lobbies and lifts, as well as offices frequented by the public, such as clinics.

The department has conducted thorough cleansing and disinfection of its venues and facilities. All its staff have been given masks and gloves.

More disposable towels and soap have been put in its venues' washrooms and changing rooms.

Swimming pools, children's playrooms and toy libraries have been temporarily closed for cleaning and disinfection.

The Transport Department has appealed to the industry to pay more attention to the hygienic condition of their vehicles, and has distributed guidelines on atypical pneumonia to frontline workers .