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Following is a transcript (English portion) of the remarks made by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, at a stand-up media session at the Central Government Offices today (February 3):
Dr Chow: May be I repeat what I've said earlier first. In view of the discovery of H5N1 in wild birds in Hong Kong as well as the recent dead chicken that was discovered in Sha Tau Kok, it is our view that H5N1 is already endemic virus within the avian population of this region. And that's the reason why we've tried to have hypothesis to ensure that this transmission would not be passed from wild birds to chickens as much as possible. Since we now allow certain poultry keeping within our citizens, less than 20 poultry the number, we are now trying to legislate the banning of poultry farming for any chicken or any poultry that is less than 20 in Hong Kong. This will be enforced as soon as the regulation is passed. We foresee this will be done within the next one or two weeks.
Reporter: How about the cross border control for smuggled birds and poultry?
Dr Chow: We are working together with the Customs and Excise Department to ensure that we have very stringent patrol as well as enforcement of any smuggling across the border. I know the Sha Tau Kok area is a vulnerable area because of the sharing of the common street. But at the same time I think we are also working with our Mainland counterparts to ensure that they have also patrol in their area and make sure also the poultry that is being sold in the markets in the vicinity is also certified by the quality and assurance department of the Chinese Government.
Reporter: Do you agree that the border is the weakest link in your anti-avian flu control? How can you ensure that there is no smuggling in the area?
Dr Chow: The Sha Tau Kok area is always vulnerable for any type of smuggling, not just poultry. I think our Government, the Customs and Excise Department, has tried its very best to have more stringent measures in that area. At the same time, I would also like to appeal to the public that they should not buy any poultry or poultry meat that is of unknown origin. And it is also an offence for people who bring in even chilled or frozen poultry meat from outside Hong Kong too. So, they are not allowed to bring any, and it is an offence.
Reporter: Do you know much more about where the (dead) chicken came from, where exactly in Guangdong or its source?
Dr Chow: From the history that had been taken, the chicken is most likely coming from one of the nearby markets of Sha Tau Kok across the border. It had been with the family for five days before any symptoms of avian flu developing in the chicken. So we do not know whether the chicken had contracted the virus while it is in the market or in the villager's home because at the same time we have also discovered wild birds which have H5N1 in Sha Tau Kok in those few days. There¡¦s no way that we can actually ascertain this.
Reporter: Do you know is there any outbreak in Southern China?
Dr Chow: We have not heard any outbreak of chicken flu among the poultry in Shenzhen recently. We are also in constant dialogue with the authorities in Shenzhen.
Reporter: What is the penalty for violating poultry keeping in the backyard? How can you enforce this?
Dr Chow: I think officers from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department will be patrolling particularly vulnerable areas to ensure that those poultry are being found. The penalty that we have in mind is about $50,000 to $100,000 of fine.
Reporter: Is Hong Kong still bird flu free?
Dr Chow: I have to say that with the evidence we have, it is most likely that the H5N1 virus is already endemic in this region. This is a fact that we have to accept. But with all the measures that we are taking and also the measures that we have proposed to take, then most likely I think we have adequate measures to ensure that the H5N1 virus has only a limited risk of transmission to our poultry and also a limited risk of transmission to human.
Reporter: Are there any new suspected H5N1 case today?
Dr Chow: No, not today. We'll be monitoring all the situation still. We are collecting dead birds by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. We are also stepping up all our laboratory capacity in the Government.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Friday, February 3, 2006
Issued at HKT 21:03
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