Property Management Services Authority Formulates Best Practice Guide on
“Mosquito Prevention and Control in Residential Properties”
The Property Management Services Authority (PMSA), pursuant to the Property Management Services Ordinance (Cap. 626) (the Ordinance), has issued the Best Practice Guide on “Mosquito Prevention and Control in Residential Properties” (the Guide) to property management (PM) licensees, encouraging licensed PM companies and practitioners to more effectively assist in tackling mosquito problem within residential properties.
To enhance the environmental hygiene standard of residential properties, the PMSA has formulated the Guide based on information provided by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and with reference to relevant legislation and regulations (including the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132) (“PHMSO”)). The primary goal is to more effectively assist licensed PM companies and their practitioners in carrying out mosquito prevention and control work in buildings and properties.
Mosquito problems in residential properties affect not only environmental hygiene but can also transmit various diseases (such as dengue fever, malaria, Zika virus infection, Japanese encephalitis and chikungunya fever, etc.) posing risks to public health. Mosquito larvae can breed in different types of accumulated water, and are particularly prone to breeding in warm and rainy seasons. The activity range of adult mosquitoes may cover both indoor and outdoor common areas and facilities of buildings. PM work is integral to the daily lives of the ordinary public, and PM practitioners, who are familiar with the conditions of properties under their management, are competent to assist in tackling the mosquito problem within properties. This is key to safeguarding residents’ health and maintaining good environmental hygiene.
The Guide on “Mosquito Prevention and Control in Residential Properties” outlines the relevant liabilities and regulations: under the PHMSO, owner, occupier, incorporated owner or PM company responsible for the premises has the duty to remove or deal with any accumulation of water or articles within the premises that may lead to mosquito breeding, or prevent the accumulation of water, mosquito larvae or pupae within the premises, so as to avoid the risk of disease transmission caused by mosquitoes; where such infestation is found, the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene may issue notice to the relevant party requiring appropriate action to be taken in a timely manner; the legal consequences for failure to comply with any such notice; and mosquito prevention and control measures to be taken by PM companies (including conducting regular inspection and removing accumulation of water, proper garden maintenance, using mosquito traps, anti-mosquito facilities and personal protection, community collaboration, educating residents, monitoring and evaluation, and actively participating in the FEHD’s Area Gravidtrap Index notification system, etc.), with a view to reducing mosquito risks. In addition to the FEHD’s active involvement, the PMSA has also consulted professional industry bodies and owners’ corporations in formulating the Guide. The Chinese and English versions of the Guide can be downloaded from the PMSA website (https://www.pmsa.org.hk/tc/regulatory/codes-of-conduct).
Dr James WONG, Chairperson of the PMSA, said, “Mosquito problem in residential properties at present mainly arises from accumulation of water within properties (such as drainage channels, canopies, air-conditioner drip trays, flower pots with accumulated water, etc.) breeding mosquitoes. PM companies and practitioners may refer to this Guide to prevent mosquito problems and safeguard residents’ health through measures including conducting regular inspection to remove accumulation of water, garden maintenance, using mosquito traps and educating residents accordingly, etc.”
The PMSA has already issued a total of 27 Codes and Guides covering various PM areas, including “General Code of Conduct”, “Complaint Handling Mechanism of Property Management Companies”, “Effective Control over Property Management Business by Property Management Companies”, “Handling Moneys Received on behalf of Clients by Property Management Companies”, “Obligations of Property Management Companies regarding the Ending of their Appointment”, “Prevention of Corruption”, “Prescribed Conditions on Licences”, “Protection on Personal Data”, “Handling Payment for or Arranging Payment to be Made by Clients”, “Provision of Prescribed Information and Financial Documents to Clients”, “Carrying out Procurement for Clients and Prevention of Bid-rigging”, “Handling Emergencies”, “Handling Scaffolding Works”, “Handling Suspended Working Platform Works”, “Handling Outsourced Property Management Services”, “Prevention of Corruption – Staff Recruitment and Management”, “Distribution and Display of Promotional Material”, “Tree Management Work”, “Obligations of Property Management Company under the Building Management Ordinance”, “Handling Building Works”, “Handling Instrument of Appointing a Proxy”, “Handling Fire Safety Work”, “Slope Management Work”, “Handling Drainage Work”, “Handling Dripping Air Conditioners”, “Handling Water Seepage in Properties” and “Rodent Control in Residential Properties”.
The PMSA will continue to issue various Codes and Guides covering other PM areas in order to provide guidance to the industry, and will review and update the issued Codes and Guides from time to time to stay in line with the latest development.
Ends/Friday, 27 March, 2026
Issued at HKT 12:00
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To enhance the environmental hygiene standard of residential properties, the PMSA has formulated the Guide based on information provided by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and with reference to relevant legislation and regulations (including the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132) (“PHMSO”)). The primary goal is to more effectively assist licensed PM companies and their practitioners in carrying out mosquito prevention and control work in buildings and properties.
Mosquito problems in residential properties affect not only environmental hygiene but can also transmit various diseases (such as dengue fever, malaria, Zika virus infection, Japanese encephalitis and chikungunya fever, etc.) posing risks to public health. Mosquito larvae can breed in different types of accumulated water, and are particularly prone to breeding in warm and rainy seasons. The activity range of adult mosquitoes may cover both indoor and outdoor common areas and facilities of buildings. PM work is integral to the daily lives of the ordinary public, and PM practitioners, who are familiar with the conditions of properties under their management, are competent to assist in tackling the mosquito problem within properties. This is key to safeguarding residents’ health and maintaining good environmental hygiene.
The Guide on “Mosquito Prevention and Control in Residential Properties” outlines the relevant liabilities and regulations: under the PHMSO, owner, occupier, incorporated owner or PM company responsible for the premises has the duty to remove or deal with any accumulation of water or articles within the premises that may lead to mosquito breeding, or prevent the accumulation of water, mosquito larvae or pupae within the premises, so as to avoid the risk of disease transmission caused by mosquitoes; where such infestation is found, the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene may issue notice to the relevant party requiring appropriate action to be taken in a timely manner; the legal consequences for failure to comply with any such notice; and mosquito prevention and control measures to be taken by PM companies (including conducting regular inspection and removing accumulation of water, proper garden maintenance, using mosquito traps, anti-mosquito facilities and personal protection, community collaboration, educating residents, monitoring and evaluation, and actively participating in the FEHD’s Area Gravidtrap Index notification system, etc.), with a view to reducing mosquito risks. In addition to the FEHD’s active involvement, the PMSA has also consulted professional industry bodies and owners’ corporations in formulating the Guide. The Chinese and English versions of the Guide can be downloaded from the PMSA website (https://www.pmsa.org.hk/tc/regulatory/codes-of-conduct).
Dr James WONG, Chairperson of the PMSA, said, “Mosquito problem in residential properties at present mainly arises from accumulation of water within properties (such as drainage channels, canopies, air-conditioner drip trays, flower pots with accumulated water, etc.) breeding mosquitoes. PM companies and practitioners may refer to this Guide to prevent mosquito problems and safeguard residents’ health through measures including conducting regular inspection to remove accumulation of water, garden maintenance, using mosquito traps and educating residents accordingly, etc.”
The PMSA has already issued a total of 27 Codes and Guides covering various PM areas, including “General Code of Conduct”, “Complaint Handling Mechanism of Property Management Companies”, “Effective Control over Property Management Business by Property Management Companies”, “Handling Moneys Received on behalf of Clients by Property Management Companies”, “Obligations of Property Management Companies regarding the Ending of their Appointment”, “Prevention of Corruption”, “Prescribed Conditions on Licences”, “Protection on Personal Data”, “Handling Payment for or Arranging Payment to be Made by Clients”, “Provision of Prescribed Information and Financial Documents to Clients”, “Carrying out Procurement for Clients and Prevention of Bid-rigging”, “Handling Emergencies”, “Handling Scaffolding Works”, “Handling Suspended Working Platform Works”, “Handling Outsourced Property Management Services”, “Prevention of Corruption – Staff Recruitment and Management”, “Distribution and Display of Promotional Material”, “Tree Management Work”, “Obligations of Property Management Company under the Building Management Ordinance”, “Handling Building Works”, “Handling Instrument of Appointing a Proxy”, “Handling Fire Safety Work”, “Slope Management Work”, “Handling Drainage Work”, “Handling Dripping Air Conditioners”, “Handling Water Seepage in Properties” and “Rodent Control in Residential Properties”.
The PMSA will continue to issue various Codes and Guides covering other PM areas in order to provide guidance to the industry, and will review and update the issued Codes and Guides from time to time to stay in line with the latest development.
Ends/Friday, 27 March, 2026
Issued at HKT 12:00
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