January 20, 2009

Hong Kong will not increase its chicken imports during the coming Lunar New Year holidays from China due to the recent bird flu outbreak, said a health official on Monday (Jan 19).

Hong Kong is concerned about the three human cases of H5N1 reported by China recently, and has asked China's authorities for epidemiological study results when they are ready, said Dr. York Chow, the Secretary for Food and Health of Hong Kong.

Chow said Hong Kong is concerned whether there is a change in the virus, if human cases occurred without any bird flu outbreaks in poultry.

Due to the concerns, Hong Kong will not increase imports from China this year and will not change of pattern of trading and transport during this period, Chow said.