The daily quantity of live chicken imports from the Mainland would be temporarily increased to meet the surge in public demand for live chickens with the approach of the Winter Solstice, a spokesman for the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau said today (December 17).

The spokesman said the daily imports of live chickens from the Mainland would be increased from the current level of 30,000 to 35,000 from December 15 to 17 while in the three days preceding the festival (December 18 to 20), the daily imports could be further increased to 50,000. As regards the supply of live chickens by local farms, the quantity would be maintained at roughly the same level as the import quantity.

"The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department has urged local chicken farmers and wholesalers, in considering public health and the risk of a possible avian influenza outbreak, to avoid supplying excessive amount of live chickens to the retail markets," the spokesman said.

"As the capacity of the retail outlets has been reduced by 25% when compared with the past, the retail outlets can only accept a supply of up to some 60,000 live chickens each day.

"These arrangements were made in view of an increase in public demand for live chickens during this festive period and we also envisage a quick turnover in live chicken sales. We believe the arrangements can ensure that there will be a sufficient supply of live chickens during the festive period while avoiding an overstocking of live chickens in the retail outlets.

"We will step up the inspection and quarantine measures during this period to ensure that the live chickens imported into Hong Kong are healthy for public consumption," the spokesman said.

Ends/Friday, December 17, 2004

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