Press Releases

Government discusses compensation with live poultry traders

The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, today (June 20) said the Government had met the poultry traders, including farmers, wholesalers and retailers, this morning to discuss compensation needed for them to leave the business.

"We have in the meeting put forward our compensation proposals. The proposed compensation package, totalling about $1 billion, was worked out after taking into consideration objective factors, such as the trade's operation, turnover and avian influenza risks.

"This is a generous offer after taking into consideration that the trade has to close down its business within a short period of time," he said.

Farmers, wholesalers, retailers, transport operators and live poultry workers are entitled to receive compensation under the proposed package. The compensation amount is about three times that of the package for voluntary surrender of live poultry licences or tenancies scheme made in 2004 and 2005.

"The Government's proposal is a very reasonable offer.

"I understand that the trade has encountered difficulties in their business in the past few years due to the threat of avian influenza. I am sympathetic to their problems and want to work together with them to tackle them.

"I hope the trade would adopt a pragmatic approach and reach a consensus as soon as possible, so that we can seek funds from the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council (Legco) within this legislative session. We are running out of time," Dr Chow said.

He added that the Government must be prudent in coming up with the compensation package. The package involved public money and the community had already asked the Government to be cautious in using public money when giving compensation. Compensation could only be made with the support of the Legco and the community at large.


Ends/Friday, June 20, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:22

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