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Following is the English translation of a speech by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food Bureau, Dr York Chow, in moving the resolution to amend the Public Health (Animals and Birds) (Licensing of Livestock Keeping) (Amendment) Regulation 2006 today (March 29):
Madam President,
I rise to move the motion to amend the Public Health (Animals and Birds)(Licensing of Livestock Keeping)(Amendment) Regulation standing in my name on the Order Paper to enable the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation (DFAC) to issue exemption permit to allow keeping of the specified birds, including chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons and quails, that have been kept as pets before the law that banned backyard poultry came into effect.
The confirmed case of a backyard poultry infected with H5N1 virus in a local household on February 1 this year showed the grave hazard backyard poultry keeping activities would pose to public health. Therefore, the Administration gazetted the Waste Disposal Ordinance (Amendment of Fourth Schedule) Notice 2006 and Public Health (Animals and Birds) (Licensing of Livestock Keeping) (Amendment) Regulation on February 8, which came into effect on February 13, to ban backyard poultry keeping in Hong Kong.
Since the law came into effect, a few members of public have openly asserted that their poultry were kept as pets instead of being food animals. Most of the members of the LegCo Subcommittee of the relevant subsidiary legislation also agreed to make special arrangement for these pet poultry. The Administration has considered these views and noted with compassion the bonds between the owners and their pet poultry and the owner's wish to keep their poultry as pets till their natural deaths.
Therefore, I table an amendment motion today to amend the Public Health (Animals and Birds)(Licensing of Livestock Keeping)(Amendment) Regulation. Subject to the provision of sufficient evidence to prove to the satisfaction of the DFAC that the poultry concerned have been kept as pets before the law that banned backyard poultry came into effect, the DFAC would consider granting exemption permits. Under the conditions stipulated in such an exemption permit, the DFAC may send staff to inspect the premises concerned to ensure compliance with the biosecurity measures and other relevant conditions. The exemption permit may be revoked in case of breach of any conditions.
The Subcommittee has already endorsed these amendments. I hope Members would also support this motion.
Thank you, Madam President.
Ends/Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:13
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