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The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, offered his deepest condolences to the family of Station Sergeant Lau Chi-kin, who died after falling from a footbridge in Central today (June 15).
Dr Chow said, "The Government will make every effort to help the family of the deceased during this sad period."
The incident occurred as the officer was handling a case in which a former transporter of day-old chicks was staging a protest on top of a footbridge. The man alleged that the Government did not offer him any compensation in a buyout package for the live poultry trade in 2008.
Dr Chow said, "We respect all peaceful and lawful forms of petition. However, such activity should not pose any danger to oneself or to others."
The Government offered a buyout package for the live poultry trade in 2008. The scheme offered ex-gratia payments to poultry farmers, wholesalers, retailers and transporters who chose to opt out from the live poultry trade permanently. However, the scheme did not cover all industries relating to live poultry, such as transporters of day-old chicks. The buyout package was thoroughly discussed and approved by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council.
"Colleagues from the Food and Health Bureau and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department have met Mr Lau many times since 2008, and as recently as May 20 this year, to explain to him the coverage of the buyout package and tell him what kind of assistance he could seek from the established channels. We will continue to communicate with him.
"Instead of resorting to dangerous protest actions, Mr Lau could have gone through the proper channels to seek redress," Dr Chow added.
Ends/Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Issued at HKT 19:05
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