As any bird flu outbreak will ruin the achievements of last year's economic
recovery, Hong Kong government is considering a series of long-term
precautionary measures to keep the deadly disease outside the region.
To avoid live poultry slaughtering in wet markets or back alleys, a site near
the boundary has been identified for the proposed central poultry slaughtering
plant, which will come into operation in 2009, Hong Kong Health, Welfare and
Food Bureau said.
With the nearest residential area over 200 meters away, the
10,500-square-meter plant will operate year-long with a daily slaughtering
capacity of up to 40,000 chickens and 3,000 pigeons and other small sized
poultry except water birds. Its capacity can be expanded for slaughtering up to
60,000 chickens.
The plant, which will cost 200 million HK dollars (US$25.64 million), is
expected to be enclosed and comprise three major areas for holding live
chickens, slaughtering and distribution. Lorries used for delivering live
chickens will go to the plant direct from the boundary or local farms and be
cleaned after unloading within the plant.
The district council is scheduled to discuss the issue on April 6. An
official tender will be called this year to complete everything including
legislation within the next legislative year.
As the government is balancing employment in poultry sales, tourism and
catering industries, it is studying compensation for the 3,000 poultry retailers
or wholesalers who will be affected by the changes to Hong Kong's chicken
supply.
Besides, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has
earmarked 10 million HK dollars (US$1.28 million) for the promotion of organic
farming and greenhouse production, especially targeted at poultry farmers who
may switch to organic farming due to avian influenza. So far, about 120 poultry
farmers have attended seminars held by the AFCD for organic cultivation of
strawberries, golden cap mushrooms and cherry tomatoes.
Chief Executive Donald Tsang agreed that organic farming can produce food in
an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner." Diversified development
suits Hong Kong's economic need. With a good business outlook, organic farming
provides local farmers with a viable alternative and more choices for
consumers," he said.
To nature reserves, wetlands and urban parks that are fragile to avian flu,
the government begins to exert controls with international criteria.
The Worldwide Fund For Nature, formerly known as World Wildlife Fund,
suggests that the government should also follow other international examples in
developing a more detailed set of scientific criteria to determine whether to
close the reserve in the future as a precautionary measure against bird flu.
"Such clear criteria would not only benefit Mai Po, but also other
educational facilities that have been closed because of concern over bird flu,
such as the new Wetland Park in Tin Shui Wai, and the aviaries in Ocean Park,
Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Gardens, and in the many urban parks," Lew Young, WWF
Hong Kong Mai Po Reserve Manager, said.