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The daily quantity of live chicken imports from the Mainland would be temporarily increased in the seven days preceding the Winter Solstice (i.e. December 15 to 21), a spokesman for the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau said today (December 8).
The spokesman said the daily imports of live chickens from the Mainland would be increased from the current level of 20,000 to 30,000 on December 15 and 16 while the daily imports from December 17 to 21 would be increased from 20,000 to 50,000 to meet the surge in public demand for live chickens with the approach of the Winter Solstice.
The number of chickens to be imported on December 22 will resume to the daily limit of 20,000.
"Noting that the economy and consumer sentiment remain buoyant this year, the public may advance their celebration of the Winter Solstice in view of the long Christmas holidays. The arrangement is made after discussion and evaluation between the Government and representatives from the live poultry trade on the demand of live chickens for the Winter Solstice this year.
"The trade has ensured us that they will strictly observe public health conditions and there will be no overstocking of live chickens in the retail outlets during the seven-day period. If there is any overstocking in the wholesale and retail markets, or an avian influenza outbreak in the Mainland or Hong Kong, the Government would suspend the arrangement," the spokesman said.
As before, the Government would closely monitor the situation at the market during the period, the spokesman said.
Ends/Friday, December 8, 2006
Issued at HKT 19:34
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