The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said on November 6 that it had begun the third phase of "Operation Skynet", a special inspection and enforcement operation prompted by recent environmental hygiene and rodent problems at several food premises and the shopping malls housing them.

According to the department, the first two phases, which began with the operation's launch on September 30, targeted supermarkets, restaurants, other food premises and public markets. Those phases led to 196 prosecutions and the issuing of 297 statutory Notices of Elimination of Vermin and 144 Notices of Requirement to Cleanse and Repair Food Premises.

In the third phase, officers focus on mall restaurants while widening checks to other high-risk mall areas and nearby food premises, with particular attention to refuse collection, food waste handling and related collection facilities. The department said it would ask those in charge to speed up waste handling, carry out rodent control, fill rat holes and remove harborage. It said premises breaching the Food Business Regulation or showing signs of rodent infestation could face statutory notices, prosecutions, closure orders in severe cases meeting statutory conditions, and ultimately suspension or cancellation of licences if non-compliance persists. The department also cited collaboration with the Property Management Services Authority on rodent prevention guidance for the property management sector.