The government on Wednesday said the effectiveness of its anti-rodent operation has increased substantially, thanks to the introduction of new equipment.

Authorities had set up a new task force in August to tackle the city's hygiene and rodent problems, and the new methods have been undergoing testing at the Tai Shing Street Market in Wong Tai Sin.

Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan said old methods like cage traps had been “too conventional”, with an average of only 4.5 rats being captured at the market each month.

He said new equipment, like alcohol traps and glue traps, have proven to be much more effective.

"Since the end of November, we tried using glue traps in this market. In the first three weeks, we caught more than 380 rodents just in this market," Tse said.

"Comparing with the old methods, the new equipment and approach certainly is more effective. Therefore, we are prepared to ask other places to adopt similar methods to catch rodents."

Vendors at the market also hailed the anti-rodent operation, saying the hygiene condition there has improved.

"Some rats would bite my fruits before if I didn't cover them well, but this situation won't happen now," a shopkeeper surnamed Yu said.