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The following are opening remarks by the Secretary for the Environment and Food, Mrs Lily Yam, at a press stand-up session today (May 17).

The operations that we started yesterday afternoon of slaughtering the chickens in three markets (Yeung Uk Road Market, Fa Yuen Street Market and Smithfield Market) was complete at seven o'clock. We immediately followed up with thorough cleansing of the three markets concerned. The cleansing operation was completed at midnight last night.

Within the next three days, we aim to complete thorough cleansing operations in the remaining markets. At the same time, we are also stepping up disinfection and cleansing in the poultry wholesale market in Cheung Sha Wan. Finally, because of recent event, we are already taking samples of dead chickens for post-mortem at the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department's laboratory. I understand that poultry stall-holders are concerned about the current situation, so the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene has already met representatives of the poultry stalls in the three affected markets this afternoon. Tomorrow, she will arrange meetings with representatives of poultry stalls in other markets with a view to securing their cooperation in improving the sanitation and hygiene standards in those markets and also to listen to their views about their concern and so on.

Generally, the situation today is as normal. In other words, we have been monitoring the number of chicken deaths in all the markets in Hong Kong. As you know, some chickens do die out of stress as in every market and every day. So what we are watching out is death which are higher in number than usual and as at this moment, there is only one market - the market in Tai Shing Street, Wong Tai Sin, at which about 70 chickens were reported to have died. We have taken samples for post-mortem in the AFCD's laboratory. Once the findings are available, I would not rule out the taking of further action in that particular market.

(Please refer to the part on question-and-answer session)

End/Thursday, May 17,2001

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• SEF's question-and-answer transcript (17.05.2001)

• Precautionary measures taken to prevent spread of chicken disease (16.05.2001)

• Press briefing on precautionary measures to control spread of chicken disease (16.05.2001)

• Financial assistance for chicken stall owners (16.05.2001)