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The number of live chicken imports from the Mainland would be temporarily increased to 14,000 per day in two periods preceding Winter Solstice to meet a surge in demand for live chickens during the festive period, a spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau said today (December 8).
The import ceiling will be adjusted upwards from 7,000 to 14,000 chickens on a total of seven import days - between December 11-13 as well as between December 17-20. The increased import of live chickens will be available at retail markets from December 12-14 and from December 18-21.
The number of imported live chickens will be scaled back to the daily import limit of 7,000 on December 21.
"We have come to this decision after considering the market situation subsequent to the end of the buyout scheme for the live poultry trade, assessing public demand for live chickens before Winter Solstice as well as balancing the risk of avian influenza," the spokesman said.
"The ceiling on live chicken imports announced today is merely the upper limit. Traders will decide the actual number of live chickens import within this limit according to the sale situation," he said.
He stressed that wholesalers should strictly adhere to the biosecurity measures implemented in Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Poultry Wholesale Market, while retailers should ensure that no live chickens would be kept overnight in retail outlets. They should also thoroughly cleanse and disinfect their stalls and related facilities every day.
"Should an avian influenza infection be found in human or poultry in Guangdong or Hong Kong before or during this period, the Government will immediately suspend the arrangement to increase live chicken imports," the spokesman said.
The Government will, as always, closely monitor the situation at the wholesale market and retail outlets during this period with increased live chicken imports.
Relevant government departments, including the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, the Customs and Excise Department and the Police, will continue to work with relevant Mainland authorities to deter illegal imports of poultry and birds to Hong Kong to protect public health.
The Government also called on people not to illegally bring any live poultry or birds into Hong Kong.
Ends/Monday, December 8, 2008
Issued at HKT 14:37
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