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A spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) today (January 23) reminded members of the public not to keep backyard poultry or they might face prosecution.
During an inspection on January 7, AFCD officers found that 18 live chickens were illegally kept by a woman in a household at Kai Leng Village, Fanling. The chickens were seized and transported to the department's animal management centre in Sheung Shui. After taking samples for testing, all the chickens were disposed of on the same day.
The woman was prosecuted under the Public Health (Animals and Birds) Ordinance today.
The spokesman said: "Unauthorised keeping of five kinds of poultry - chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons and quails – is an offence with a maximum fine of $50,000 to $100,000."
To protect public health and reduce the risk of an avian influenza outbreak in Hong Kong, a ban on backyard poultry has been in force since 2006.
"AFCD will continue to conduct frequent inspections of villages and strictly enforce the ban. Leaflets will also be distributed to individual village households during the inspections," the spokesman added.
Any information concerning illegal keeping of poultry can be reported through the government hotline 1823.
Ends/Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:41
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