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Some 40,000 chickens will be sent from 18 local farms to the Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Wholesale Poultry Market for sale tomorrow (February 6).
Following the retail outlet rest day today, local farmers are allowed to send their chickens to the wholesale market this evening, a spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said.
"A total of 18 local farms are allowed to send their chickens to the wholesale market. AFCD staff have conducted sample tests of the chickens to make sure that there is no presence of the H5 avian influenza virus," he said.
The wholesale market has already been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. Trading at the wholesale market will resume early tomorrow morning. Supply of local chickens in retail outlets will resume afterwards.
The number of chickens to be sold on Saturday will be determined later after consideration of the sale of chickens tomorrow.
"We will remain vigilant in our surveillance of avian influenza for the protection of public health," the spokesman said.
Ends/Thursday, February 5, 2004
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