March 8, 2006

Hong Kong may ban frozen chicken from mainland

Hong Long may ban frozen chicken imports from mainland China if bird flu breaks out in Guangdong, Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food Dr York Chow said on Mar 7.

He said the recent ban on live chicken imports was necessary as the latest human death in Guangzhou was unusual. The victim lives in an urban area with no contact with farms and his only exposure to poultry was in the markets.

The authorities need time to investigate the death to see if there is any change in the virus and if any practice in the wet market caused the infection, said Chow.

Originally, the plan to reduce the local chicken population to two million was to start during the Lunar New Year. However, it was postponed after some poultry traders objected to it. 

He said the move will keep the chicken population at a reasonable level and allow them to be in a safe environment. This will alleviate the public's fear about chicken consumption.