Press Releases

Live chicken imports remain unchanged before Winter Solstice

In response to media enquiries, a spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau said today (December 16) that the Government had decided to maintain the present level of daily live chicken imports from the Mainland at 7,000 chickens before the Winter Solstice.

The decision was made after considering the threat of avian influenza to Hong Kong and the supply of live chickens in the market, the spokesman explained.

"We understand the request of the live poultry traders for an increase in the number of imported live chickens before Winter Solstice. However, it is noted that the overall supply of imported and local live chickens could meet the public demand during festive occasions since the measure to ban live chickens from staying overnight at retail markets was implemented in July last year," the spokesman said.

There are 211,880 live chickens (65-95 days old) in local farms available for sale in the market. It is estimated that the supply of live chicken around the Winter Solstice will remain stable in general and can meet public needs.

The supply and market share of chilled and frozen chickens are also on the rise, giving the public more choices.

A daily average of about 2,000 chickens were kept overnight at the Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Poultry Wholesale Market recently.

"We appeal to the trade to co-operate and maintain all preventive measures against avian influenza. The wholesalers should also avoid stocking of live chickens overnight at the wholesale market with a view to persistently controlling the risk of avian influenza," the spokesman said.


Ends/Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Issued at HKT 15:03

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