Bird flu scare: Hongkong to cull all poultry

Chickens, geese, ducks and quail to be slaughtered over two weeks, after 'acute and virulent' virus strikes

By Raymond Wan
IN HONGKONG

THE sale of fresh chicken in Hongkong has come to a standstill following the government's announcement yesterday to slaughter all poultry in the territory - 1.2 million birds in all - to stem the outbreak of 'bird flu'.

Environment and Food Secretary Lily Yam said the mass culling would take place over the next two weeks and will cover chickens, geese, ducks and quail.

The exercise will cost the government more than HK$80 million (S$16 million) in compensation to farmers and dealers.

Mrs Yam assured Hongkongers yesterday that the virus was not harmful to humans as it was a different strain from the H5N1 virus outbreak in late 1997 and early 1998 which left six people dead.

Dead chickens carrying the virus have been found in 10 markets throughout Hongkong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories in the last three days.

'This attests to the fact that we are dealing with an acute and virulent virus affecting chickens,' Mrs Yam said at a press conference yesterday.

Slaughtering and cleaning operations at the 10 infected markets were completed yesterday. More markets will be shut today and tomorrow so officials can cull the birds in stages.

Over a fortnight from Monday, action will also be taken to destroy the birds and all mature poultry on local farms, she said.

'There is no evidence at the moment that our wholesale markets and our local farms have been contaminated,' she added.

'Since the retail outlets have been closed and will remain closed...we feel that there is a need to destroy the birds in the wholesale markets and mature poultry on our local farms.'

The Hongkong authorities have, in the meantime, informed Beijing that the import of all live poultry from the mainland will be suspended.

Hongkongers have generally been supportive of the government's action.

Stall owners will likely receive between HK$30,000 and HK$80,000 in compensation each, and get their stall rental waived during the culling period.