Press Releases

Government urges poultry traders to stay calm

A spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau today (January 20) urged poultry traders to stay calm and rational, stressing that the risk of avian influenza was the consideration for not increasing live chicken imports prior to Lunar New Year.

The spokesman said: "Hong Kong discovered the H5 virus in poultry in a farm and poultry droppings in markets twice last year. With the advent of winter, there have been cases of human or poultry infection of avian influenza on the Mainland and in the region. This means the risk of avian influenza is on the high side. To avoid further increasing our risk of avian influenza, we have to maintain the daily live chicken imports from the Mainland at the existing level of 7,000 chickens.

"We understand the decision will impact on the trade. The price of live chickens prior to Lunar New Year might be higher than that of the previous years. However, we hope the traders can understand the risk of avian influenza faced by Hong Kong and the Government��s decision, and not take any drastic actions.

"To protect public health, the Customs and Excise Department, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) have heightened their vigilance to prevent poultry or poultry meat from unknown sources from coming into or being sold in Hong Kong. Members of the public are advised not to buy live poultry or poultry meat while travelling abroad and not to bring them back to Hong Kong.

"Meanwhile, the AFCD and FEHD have stepped up inspections to ensure the biosecurity measures are properly implemented at local poultry farms, Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Poultry Wholesale Market and live poultry retail outlets."

The spokesman added that the supply of chilled and frozen chickens is adequate to meet the market demand, providing the public with a variety of choices.


Ends/Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Issued at HKT 10:50

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