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The government had continued to maintain close liaison with Mainland authorities on the issue of the resumption of importation of day-old chicks, a spokesman for the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau said today (May 3).
The spokesman said a Hong Kong delegation led by the Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food had held meetings with officials of the Ministry of Commerce and the State General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine last week in Beijing and put forward Hong Kong's request to resume importation of day-old chicks at the earliest possible time to help the operation of local poultry farmers.
"According to our understanding at the meeting, the Mainland market is also facing a shortage in the supply of day-old chicks as production had been temporarily suspended during the avian influenza outbreak. Time is needed for the mainland hatcheries to resume production to a normal level prior to the outbreak.
"Mainland officials expressed their understanding of our situation and agreed to provide assistance.
"Despite the long holidays, the Mainland authorities have agreed that officials from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department could visit the Guangdong hatcheries over the next few days and discuss with the Guangdong authorities health and quarantine arrangements in preparation for the resumption of importation of day-old chicks," the spokesman said.
"Meanwhile, the government will also continue to maintain close liaison with the Mainland authorities on the resumption of importation of live ducks and geese," the spokesman added.
Ends/Monday, May 3, 2004
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