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The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, today (February 14) met the poultry trade to brief them on the latest progress in following up with their requests regarding the grant of compensation and ex-gratia payments (EGPs), as well as the separate holding of local and imported live poultry before avian influenza (AI) test results are available.
Dr Ko said in the meeting that the Government would make compensation to owners for the slaughtered birds in accordance with the relevant legislative provision, i.e. a compensation of not exceeding $30 for each bird slaughtered.
"However, we agree that H7N9 AI has posed serious threats to public health and the live poultry trade. The recent H7N9 AI case confirmed in the immediate run-up to the Lunar New Year interrupted the live poultry operation, dealing a particularly severe blow to live poultry operators. In these circumstances, we see a special case for submitting a proposal to the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council to grant a one-off EGP to operators in the live poultry trade," he said.
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The Government proposes to offer EGP of $30 per bird at or above the best marketable age (i.e. 80-day-old) as at January 28, 2014 to owners of local chicken farms. Lump-sum EGPs, ranging from $7,000 to $40,000, will also be granted to wholesalers, retailers, transport operators and self-employed workers at the wholesale market. Additionally, the retailers, wholesalers and transport operators concerned will be offered a waiver of one-month rental respectively for their retail market stalls; stalls, ancillary facilities and vehicle parking spaces in the wholesale market; and wholesale market vehicle parking spaces.
Regarding the request for separate holding of local and imported live poultry, Dr Ko stated that the Government has been actively looking for an appropriate site since positive H7 AI test results were found in imported live chickens on January 27. During the meeting, both parties discussed and evaluated different proposed sites.
"In identifying a site, the Administration has to consider the zoning and usage of the land, basic facilities required for temporary holding of live poultry, the impact of temporary holding of live poultry on the neighbouring environment and community (including whether there is any chicken farm nearby) and the lead time for preparation.
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"We are currently studying the technical issues with the relevant works departments, with a view to making a decision on the site and necessary arrangements as soon as possible. Nonetheless, due to the complexity of the issue, the Government may not be able to finalise the arrangements before February 19 when the poultry wholesale market is reopened," he said.
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Dr Ko added that the Government will meet with the relevant mainland authorities next Monday to follow up on the progress of the investigation in connection with the registered farm from which the chickens were tested positive for AI. Arrangements of live poultry import after the reopening of the wholesale market will also be discussed in the meeting.
Dr Ko reiterated that the recent H7N9 AI case did not imply there was an outbreak, but a local testing system doing what it was designed to do and serving as an additional safety measure to reduce the risk of infected birds entering the retail markets in Hong Kong.
"However, we must understand that there is no surveillance system that can attain zero risk and the community has to pay a considerable cost for that. In the long run, we should rethink whether the supply of live chickens should continue in Hong Kong," he said.
Ends/Friday, February 14, 2014
Issued at HKT 22:16
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