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The Government would amend relevant legislation to ban household poultry-keeping with effect from the date of gazettal within one or two weeks to reduce the risk of an outbreak of avian influenza in Hong Kong, the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, said today (February 3).
At meetings with legislators Mr Fred Li and Mr Wong Yung-kan this afternoon, Dr Chow explained that in light of identification of H5 in a smuggled chicken kept in a domestic household and the increasing incidents of avian influenza outbreaks on the Mainland and other parts of the world, the Government had to eradicate the risk factor by banning household poultry keeping.
"Given the public health concerns, we are proceeding with full speed in drafting legislation to ban household poultry keeping. We are of the view that such stringent measures are well justified," Dr Chow said.
Under the proposed amendment, the existing exemption for households keeping not more than 20 poultry would be removed and that household poultry keeping would be banned in Hong Kong.
The unauthorised keeping of poultry including chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons, turkeys and quails would be an offence and subjected to a fine of $50,000 to $100,000.
Ends/Friday, February 3, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:12
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