A one-month public consultation on the proposed penalties for repeat hygiene offenders has been launched. It seeks views on whether community service orders should be imposed on repeat offenders.

Following the SARS outbreak the fixed penalty for hygiene offences increased to $1,500 and has generally proved effective in curbing such bad habits.

However, there are still some repeat offenders who continue to ruin Hong Kong's environment and risk public health.

Since the introduction of the fixed penalty system in June last year, there have been 382 repeat offenders out of about 26,100 in total. Of them, 326 were second-time offenders while 56 have broken the hygiene laws three times or more.

To increase the deterrent effect, Team Clean has proposed stiffening the penalties by imposing community service orders.

Under the proposal, an offender committing a second offence within a period of 24 months will have their fixed penalty notice replaced with a summons and a court application for a higher fine and a community service order. The penalties imposed will then be left to the discretion of the court.

The offences primarily include littering, spitting, dog-fouling and unauthorised display of bills and posters.

Legislative amendments will be required to put the proposed penalties into effect.

Copies of the consultation pamphlet are available at all District Offices and the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department.

Pamphlets can also be downloaded from http://www.hwfb.gov.hk and http://www.fehd.gov.hk.