May 20, 2004

 

Hong Kong's Import Quota Of Chickens To Stay

 

The 30,000 quota on live chicken imports will be maintained until the Hong Kong government has re-evaluated the avian flu risk, said Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food Yeoh Eng-kiong yesterday.

 

The regional bird flu outbreak has been alarming to both the global and local communities. More vigorous quarantine measures have been adopted, he said.

 

Yeoh reminded the poultry trade that past practices cannot continue if there are live chickens sold in the city. The government has proposed to reduce the density of poultry stalls in markets to improve hygiene.

 

"We need to have a reduction in the number of stalls. Obviously the number of chickens in the markets cannot be increased," Yeoh said.

 

Meanwhile, a poultry operator union held a press conference yesterday to protest the government's refusal to fully resume import of mainland chickens.

 

The government has "completely ignored and humiliated" the poultry business since the 1997 bird flu crisis, said the HK/Kowloon/NT Saving Live and Chilled Poultry Union.

 

Setting an importation quota only serves to help the smugglers while the law-abiding operators' livelihood is ignored, it said.

 

"We have been supporting the government through the bird flu and the SARS crisis, but what we get in return is seeing our business shrinking day by day," said Ng Tak-leung, the Union spokesman.

 

Ng believes the poultry stall cleaning measures are excessive.

 

"Have you ever seen any places in the world implementing such mass cleaning (of the poultry markets) for days? I think not," said Ng.

 

The Union said it would seek further actions if the government does not fully restore the import of live and chilled poultry.

 

"We would try to launch a truck-rally protest, ask the responsible government officials to resign and possibly seek legal assistance to sue the government if our voices are not heard", said the spokesman.