We see cockroaches in the common corridor at Taikoo Shing/Kornhill — do I still need to treat my own flat?
Yes. Common areas — refuse rooms, back stairwells, light wells — are generally the management office's responsibility, but whether pests can get into your unit is the part you control: sealing door gaps and drains, plus a residual barrier. At inspection we'll put in writing exactly what's within your control and what's worth flagging to management.
Are mosquitoes really getting worse in Chai Wan?
The data backs it up. FEHD's mosquito-trap index held at 0.0%–0.8% at Chai Wan from January to March this year, then climbed — 7.3% in April, 15.4% in May, 16.9% in June, and still 16.3% in July. That's sustained pressure, not a one-off spike. Chai Wan sits close to hillside greenery around Chai Wan Park, and managing standing water — planter trays, rooftop clutter, back-lane drains — is the key lever.
What's different about pest control in Shau Kei Wan/Sai Wan Ho's older buildings compared to a big estate?
Completely different job. Older buildings are about structural age: wooden staircases, ageing drains, connected back lanes — cockroach and rodent routes usually run through shared piping systems. We seal entry routes before treating, which is a different model from the "management office plus your own flat" split you'd see at a large estate. Shau Kei Wan and Sai Wan Ho's mosquito index hit 17.0% in May, eased to 14.3% in June, then set a new year-high of 19.6% in July — so standing water management matters here too.