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Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, at a stand-up media session after attending radio programmes this morning (June 25):
Reporter: (about ex-gratia payments to chicken farms)
Secretary for Food and Health: We understand that the farmers want to have more compensation for terminating their business. But we have to stress again that the formula for acquiring this amount is based on land resumption. In land resumption, we take account of all the facilities they have. In our calculation, we have already included all the facilities and equipment at a price as they are new. We have not deducted any depreciation cost. It is a very generous offer. If they have any justification for any additional demand, they need to give us the details to justify that. As I said, we only have very limited adjustment margin in this area. We hope they will be pragmatic and realistic when they come to give their offer to us.
Reporter: (about the ban on keeping live chickens at retail outlets overnight)
Secretary for Food and Health: If there is any chicken harbouring H5N1 virus in the body, it would have a chance to spread the disease to all the chickens in the neighbourhood. Normally, the incubation period and rate of spread is from one day to about five days. If the chickens are crowded together in a cage, the chance of (the virus) being spread is quite high. If we can get rid of the chickens within a matter of 15 or 20 hours, the virus load in the environment will be able to be kept at a low level during that period. At the end of the day, after cleansing and disinfection, the (virus load) will come down to almost zero again. If we have that cycle every day, we will then have the chance of controlling the environment to have a very low viral level. But if we allow chickens to stay overnight and mix with different batches of chickens that will come into the market, the chance of the virus being multiplied and spread will be very high. The other consideration is related to the possibility of smuggling of chickens. If we have a mix of these chickens with any smuggled chickens, the chance of having outbreak of any type of chicken infection is also higher. The present policy that will be introduced by the subsidiary legislation by the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene is to ensure that we will have a reasonable environment for the market. It is not the ultimate aim. The ultimate aim is still to have central slaughtering and have no live chickens in our markets.
Reporter: (about the resignation of the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development)
Secretary for Food and Health: I feel very sorry about him leaving the team because we have been very good partners within the Principal Officials' team. He is a very capable secretary and a very good friend. I hope he will recover well and be able to enjoy his life. With his optimistic style, I am sure that he will enjoy the rest of the time after leaving the Government.
(Please also refer to the Chinese session of the transcript.)
Ends/Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Issued at HKT 13:14
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