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The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has stepped up bio-security measures for local duck farms by requiring the farms to provide bird-proof facilities.
A department spokesman said today (November 2) that the new requirement formed part of the licence conditions for the three existing duck farms in the northern part of the New Territories.
"To prevent wild bird droppings from contacting the stock, farmers are required to keep their stock in duck sheds with a solid roof and bird-proof facilities," he said.
"We have issued letters to all duck farmers today requesting them to install adequate facilities to meet our new licensing conditions."
The department will inspect the duck farms regularly to ensure the conditions are observed fully.
Two of the three existing duck farms are in Mai Po, with stock of less than 300 and less than 40 respectively. The other in Lok Ma Chau keeps 13 ducks.
Farmers are required to report abnormal deaths among their stock to the department within 24 hours and to obtain its permission before disposing of the dead birds.
The department has already approved two earlier applications from duck farmers who volunteered to surrender their licences, with ex-gratia payments totalling $370,000.
Ends/Wednesday, November 2, 2005
Issued at HKT 17:18
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