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The daily quantity of live chicken imports from the Mainland would be further increased from 35,000 to 50,000 for three days to meet the surge in demand for live chickens by the public and food premises during the Mid-Autumn Festival, a Health, Welfare and Food Bureau spokesman said today (September 13) after a review of the latest situation.

"The bureau has agreed with Mainland authorities that the quantity of live chicken imports will be increased from the current level of 35,000 to 50,000 between September 26 and 28 inclusive to ensure an adequate supply of live chickens in Hong Kong during the festival," the spokesman said.

"We will step up the inspection and quarantine measures during this period to make sure that live chickens imported to Hong Kong continue to be healthy for consumption," he added.

The Health, Welfare and Food Bureau announced earlier the daily imports of live chickens from the Mainland would be increased from 30,000 to 35,000 between August 16 and September 30.

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the daily import quantity will be scaled back to 30,000 on October 1, 2004.

Ends/Monday, September 13, 2004

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