The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, visited the Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Wholesale Poultry Market and poultry stalls in the Pei Ho Street Market in Sham Shui Po this (Wednesday) afternoon to see the condition there after cleansing.

He was also briefed on the progress of actions taken in tackling the problem of avian flu.

Mr Tung said that the Government had closely monitored the avian flu situation. Once the presence of the H5 virus was established in samples taken from chickens, the Government had resolutely and aptly made the decision to launch the chicken slaughter exercise, he said.

"The top priority is always the protection of public health," he stressed.

While appreciating that the poultry trade had encountered losses and residents had been inconvenienced by the chicken slaughter exercise, Mr Tung said that the Government would shortly seek funds from the Finance Committee to assist those in need.

He said : "I hope the problem will soon be over. The raising and sale of chickens will resume once all the farms, wholesale markets and retail outlets have been thoroughly cleansed and a good control system is in place to ensure chickens entering Hong Kong are free from virus."

The Chief Executive expressed his appreciation for the hard work of staff at various government departments. He also thanked the community, in particular people in the poultry trade, including those working in farms and in the wholesale and retail markets, for their cooperation.

"All of us have been bothered by the avian flu lately. Fortunately the whole community have joined hands and pitched their efforts to resolve the problem," he said.

Mr Tung urged residents, in particular those involved in food production and processing, to be always on the alert and pay extra attention to personal and environmental hygiene.