With the approach of the Year of the Dog, a three-week major clean-up campaign would begin in Hong Kong Friday, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) of the special administrative region announced Thursday.

The Lunar New Year, the most important holiday for Chinese people, will arrive late this month, during which most families would like to enjoy a big get-together. To clean up the house and decorate it for the holiday spirit is also an important part in the usually week-long preparation.

The spokesman of FEHD said: "It is our tradition to have a clean-up before the Lunar New Year. So it is time for everyone to act now."

He added that the opening hours of refuse collection points would extend and temporary junk collection points would be provided for people to dispose large pieces of household waste.

During the campaign period, the department will thoroughly clean streets, public toilets, public places and back lanes. Common parts of those old tenement buildings will be inspected.

"We call on the public to join us. It's only through concerted efforts that we can enjoy a cleaner environment in the Year of the Dog," the spokesman said.

Source: Xinhua