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Following is a question by the Hon Wong Yung-kan and an oral reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (March 1):
Question:
It has been reported that, in recent months, the Government is expediting the study on implementing central slaughtering of poultry in Hong Kong. Regarding central slaughtering of poultry and its impact on the poultry farming, wholesaling and retailing trades, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether it has abolished the plan to set up a regional poultry abattoir in the Western Wholesale Food Market; if so, of the reasons for that; if not, why it has proceeded to study the implementation of central slaughtering before the outcome of the regional poultry abattoir pilot scheme is available;
(b) whether it has set a timetable for the total ban on the trades engaged in the sale of live poultry; if it has, when the sale of live chickens will be totally banned, and whether it has set a timetable for closing down all chicken farms; and
(c) given that the authorities have indicated that it will only enforce a mandatory ban on the whole live poultry industry if two or more cases of avian influenza have been found in poultry farms, wholesale markets or retail markets, of the reasons for expediting now the study on the proposal regarding central slaughtering of poultry, and whether or not they will, before deciding whether to implement central slaughtering, assess its impact; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) To minimise the risk of human infection of avian influenza, we have been actively considering the development of a poultry slaughtering plant to put together poultry slaughtering activities. This aims to achieve complete segregation of humans from live poultry. As the Western Wholesale Food Market was once the slaughtering venue for live ducks and geese and some basic infrastructure is readily available, we inclined to set up the poultry slaughtering plant there originally so as to shorten the construction period. Subsequently, we have deliberated on site selection and considered that if the plant is to be located in the urban area, the surrounding environment would inevitably be affected. Moreover, the long transportation route of live poultry will not only cause possible nuisance to the urban area but also increase the risk of avian influenza. As a result, we believe it would be more appropriate to identify a site in the New Territories, which is relatively separated from residential areas and in proximity to poultry farms, to develop the plant.
(b) Our long-term policy goal has hitherto been complete segregation of humans from live poultry. In view of the emergence of avian influenza cases in different parts of the world recently and that the risk of human infection of avian influenza is on the rise, in particular in densely-populated cities, we are urged to develop a poultry slaughtering plant. Nevertheless, some people still want to enjoy freshly slaughtered chickens. Hence, we need to take into consideration views from various parties in drawing up an implementation timetable. We consider it desirable to ban the retail sale of live poultry upon the operation of the plant. As regards rearing of live poultry, we have no timetable to close down chicken farms. Chicken farmers may continue to rear chickens. Nevertheless, their chickens will have to be slaughtered at the plant prior to sale at retail outlets.
(c) Our ultimate policy objective is to achieve complete segregation of humans from live poultry. Before realisation of this objective, if there is evidence indicating that the existing control measures to prevent avian influenza have become ineffective, for example, having two or more cases of avian influenza at poultry farms, wholesale markets or retail markets within a short period of time, we need to take decisive action to cull all live poultry in Hong Kong immediately in an attempt to minimise the risk of spreading avian influenza.
Fundamentally, it is imperative to consider the long-term policy to prevent human infection of avian influenza ahead of any outbreak. One of the options is to develop a poultry slaughtering plant. Development of the plant does not mean banning the entire live poultry industry. Chicken farmers may choose to continue their operations. The development of the plant will naturally have impact on the live poultry retailers, but they may choose to sell chilled chickens. In the process of considering the development of the plant, we have already assessed the impact on the trade. Yet, we are of the view that the public health benefits of developing the plant override the impact on the trade.
Ends/Wednesday, March 1, 2006
Issued at HKT 12:15
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