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The Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, today (May 10) briefed the chairmen and vice-chairmen of District Councils (DCs) on the prevention of avian influenza consultation document.

"International public and animal health authorities have advised countries and places in the region to remain vigilant in the surveillance and preventive efforts against H5N1, which has a very high risk of becoming endemic amongst poultry in the region," Dr Yeoh told the district leaders.

"The government is committed to protecting the public from infection by avian influenza. Its long-term vision is to sustain the goal of 'zero infection and transmission' of avian influenza through minimising human contact with live poultry.

"By launching the consultation exercise, we want to get public views on the strategic approaches that will help achieve this goal.

"We understand that both approaches will bring about changes in the poultry trade. The government will try its best to minimise the negative impact on traders," Dr Yeoh said.

Dr Yeoh outlined the two major strategic approaches to achieve the policy objective in the briefing: the cold chain approach and freshly slaughtered chicken approach.

"Any views or comments are welcome as these can help us shape the implementation details and operational requirements of the strategic approach," he added.

In addition to the briefing, the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau officials will attend meetings of 18 DCs to explain to members the strategic approaches proposed in the consultation document and to listen to their views and concern.

Letters have been sent to poultry traders, professional bodies and academics to seek their comments on the consultation document.

The public are invited to give their views on the document "Prevention of Avian Influenza: Consultation on Long Term Direction to Minimise the Risk of Human Infection" before the deadline on July 2. The document can be downloaded from the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau's website at www.hwfb.gov.hk.

Ends/Monday, May 10, 2004

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