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A spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) today (September 24) warned that people faced prosecution if they kept backyard poultry.
During an inspection yesterday (September 23), AFCD officers found that 30 live chickens were illegally kept by a woman in a household at Chuk Yuen Tsuen, San Tin. 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 AFCD will proceed with the prosecution for illegal keeping of poultry according to the Public Health (Animals and Birds) Ordinance
The spokesman said: "Unauthorised keeping of five kinds of poultry - chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons and quails - is an offence with a fine of up 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 February 2006.
"AFCD will continue to conduct frequent inspections of villages and strictly enforce the ban. Leaflets will also be distributed during the inspections," the spokesman said.
Any information concerning illegal keeping of poultry can be reported through the 1823 Call Centre.
Ends/Thursday, September 24, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:22
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