Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ2: Poultry slaughtering plant
Following is a question by the Hon Wong Yung-kan and an oral reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (March 1):
Question:
It has been reported that, in recent months, the Government is expediting the
study on implementing central slaughtering of poultry in Hong Kong. Regarding
central slaughtering of poultry and its impact on the poultry farming,
wholesaling and retailing trades, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether it has abolished the plan to set up a regional poultry abattoir in
the Western Wholesale Food Market; if so, of the reasons for that; if not, why
it has proceeded to study the implementation of central slaughtering before the
outcome of the regional poultry abattoir pilot scheme is available;
(b) whether it has set a timetable for the total ban on the trades engaged in
the sale of live poultry; if it has, when the sale of live chickens will be
totally banned, and whether it has set a timetable for closing down all chicken
farms; and
(c) given that the authorities have indicated that it will only enforce a
mandatory ban on the whole live poultry industry if two or more cases of avian
influenza have been found in poultry farms, wholesale markets or retail markets,
of the reasons for expediting now the study on the proposal regarding central
slaughtering of poultry, and whether or not they will, before deciding whether
to implement central slaughtering, assess its impact; if not, the reasons for
that?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) To minimise the risk of human infection of avian influenza, we have been
actively considering the development of a poultry slaughtering plant to put
together poultry slaughtering activities. This aims to achieve complete
segregation of humans from live poultry. As the Western Wholesale Food Market
was once the slaughtering venue for live ducks and geese and some basic
infrastructure is readily available, we inclined to set up the poultry
slaughtering plant there originally so as to shorten the construction period.
Subsequently, we have deliberated on site selection and considered that if the
plant is to be located in the urban area, the surrounding environment would
inevitably be affected. Moreover, the long transportation route of live poultry
will not only cause possible nuisance to the urban area but also increase the
risk of avian influenza. As a result, we believe it would be more appropriate to
identify a site in the New Territories, which is relatively separated from
residential areas and in proximity to poultry farms, to develop the plant.
(b) Our long-term policy goal has hitherto been complete segregation of humans
from live poultry. In view of the emergence of avian influenza cases in
different parts of the world recently and that the risk of human infection of
avian influenza is on the rise, in particular in densely-populated cities, we
are urged to develop a poultry slaughtering plant. Nevertheless, some people
still want to enjoy freshly slaughtered chickens. Hence, we need to take into
consideration views from various parties in drawing up an implementation
timetable. We consider it desirable to ban the retail sale of live poultry upon
the operation of the plant. As regards rearing of live poultry, we have no
timetable to close down chicken farms. Chicken farmers may continue to rear
chickens. Nevertheless, their chickens will have to be slaughtered at the plant
prior to sale at retail outlets.
(c) Our ultimate policy objective is to achieve complete segregation of humans
from live poultry. Before realisation of this objective, if there is evidence
indicating that the existing control measures to prevent avian influenza have
become ineffective, for example, having two or more cases of avian influenza at
poultry farms, wholesale markets or retail markets within a short period of
time, we need to take decisive action to cull all live poultry in Hong Kong
immediately in an attempt to minimise the risk of spreading avian influenza.
Fundamentally, it is imperative to consider the long-term policy to prevent
human infection of avian influenza ahead of any outbreak. One of the options is
to develop a poultry slaughtering plant. Development of the plant does not mean
banning the entire live poultry industry. Chicken farmers may choose to continue
their operations. The development of the plant will naturally have impact on the
live poultry retailers, but they may choose to sell chilled chickens. In the
process of considering the development of the plant, we have already assessed
the impact on the trade. Yet, we are of the view that the public health benefits
of developing the plant override the impact on the trade.
Ends/Wednesday, March 1, 2006
Issued at HKT 12:15
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