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The Government today (February 8) gazettes legislative amendments to the Public Health (Animals and Birds) (Licensing of Livestock Keeping) Regulation and the Waste Disposal Ordinance to ban backyard poultry keeping activities in Hong Kong.
A spokesman for the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau said the ban, which would come into force next Monday (February 13), would be imposed to protect public health and reduce the risk of an avian influenza outbreak in Hong Kong.
With the introduction of the legislative amendments, households would not be allowed to keep any backyard poultry. Unauthorised keeping of five kinds of poultry – chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons and quails – would be an offence with a fine of $50,000 to $100,000.
"Patrol teams will be formed to ensure effective enforcement of the new law. Households keeping backyard poultry are appealed not to keep their poultry and those who require government assistance may call government hotline 1823", the spokesman said.
Ends/Wednesday, February 8, 2006
Issued at HKT 11:05
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