Press Releases
Live chicken imports to increase for Winter Solstice
The number of live chicken imports from the Mainland would be temporarily
increased to 14,000 per day in two periods preceding Winter Solstice to meet a
surge in demand for live chickens during the festive period, a spokesman for the
Food and Health Bureau said today (December 8).
The import ceiling will be adjusted upwards from 7,000 to 14,000 chickens on a
total of seven import days - between December 11-13 as well as between December
17-20. The increased import of live chickens will be available at retail markets
from December 12-14 and from December 18-21.
The number of imported live chickens will be scaled back to the daily import
limit of 7,000 on December 21.
"We have come to this decision after considering the market situation subsequent
to the end of the buyout scheme for the live poultry trade, assessing public
demand for live chickens before Winter Solstice as well as balancing the risk of
avian influenza," the spokesman said.
"The ceiling on live chicken imports announced today is merely the upper limit.
Traders will decide the actual number of live chickens import within this limit
according to the sale situation," he said.
He stressed that wholesalers should strictly adhere to the biosecurity measures
implemented in Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Poultry Wholesale Market, while
retailers should ensure that no live chickens would be kept overnight in retail
outlets. They should also thoroughly cleanse and disinfect their stalls and
related facilities every day.
"Should an avian influenza infection be found in human or poultry in Guangdong
or Hong Kong before or during this period, the Government will immediately
suspend the arrangement to increase live chicken imports," the spokesman said.
The Government will, as always, closely monitor the situation at the wholesale
market and retail outlets during this period with increased live chicken
imports.
Relevant government departments, including the Food and Environmental Hygiene
Department, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, the Customs
and Excise Department and the Police, will continue to work with relevant
Mainland authorities to deter illegal imports of poultry and birds to Hong Kong
to protect public health.
The Government also called on people not to illegally bring any live poultry or
birds into Hong Kong.
Ends/Monday, December 8, 2008
Issued at HKT 14:37
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