HK leaders praise measures to check bird flu

Move to slaughter 1.2 m birds commended as a decisive step, but chicken sellers remain divided over the drastic action to contain the virus

HONGKONG - Hongkong government leaders came out in force yesterday to praise the 'decisive' actions taken in tackling the bird flu crisis while chicken sellers were divided over the massacring of 1.2 million birds in the territory.

This bird is ready to be slaughtered as a vendor carries it away from his stall, to contain the spread of the bird flu virus. The Hongkong government has offered a compensation package to all the affected poultry sellers.--REUTERS

Chief Secretary Donald Tsang said it was unfortunate that Hongkong had come to suffer yet another bird flu three years after the last outbreak, but commended government departments, especially the Environment and Food Bureau, for reacting with sound strategies.

Environment and Food Secretary Lily Yam announced plans yesterday to wipe out Hongkong's entire poultry population to eliminate the virus.

In a segment of the Radio Television Hongkong (RTHK), Mr Tsang also urged all to work with the Legislative Council to eradicate the problem.

Echoing his comments, Financial Secretary Antony Leung said in a separate RTHK report that he hoped both the international community and Hongkongers could see that the government's efforts to stem the deadly disease were 'decisive' and 'reasonable' moves to safeguard the people's interests.

Referring to the compensation package for poultry sellers, which the government announced yesterday, Mr Leung said the price tag was worth it as public health would be protected.

Under the HK$80 million (S$18.4 million) package, each affected stall will be paid HK$34 for every chicken slaughtered, HK$8 for every quail, HK$60 for every duck and HK$120 for every goose. Each figure is to be topped up with HK$1 as slaughter fee for each of the birds.

In addition, HK$30,000 will be paid to every stall-holder to tide them over the crisis.

Even though the killing has commenced, poultry hawkers are not sure that mass annihilation is the right thing to do.

Mr Steven Wong, vice-chairman of the Hongkong Poultry Retailers' Federation, blamed the government's handling of the outbreak for the loss in business, the Hongkong iMail reported yesterday.

'The officers came to the retailers in full gear, like an army ready for a massacre. Don't they know it creates a sense of horror?' he said.

But most of the 16 chicken sellers at the Sham Shui Po Market disagreed.

They saw the government's drastic move as necessary to revive flagging consumer confidence.