A ban on backyard poultry-keeping will take effect on February
13, Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food Carrie Yau
said Tuesday.
Under the ban, the existing exemption for households keeping up
to 20 poultry will be removed. The unauthorized keeping of poultry
will be an offense warranting fines of up to 100,000 Hong Kong
dollars.
Meanwhile, patrols at checkpoints have been strengthened to curb
poultry smuggling.
Yau told lawmakers that the ban, which the Chief Executive in
Council endorsed Tuesday, aims to ensure public health and lower
the risk of a bird-flu outbreak. Past experience unveiled birds
kept in backyards are more prone to infection due to the lack of
bio-security measures.
When asked if compensation will be available for people who
surrender their birds, Yau said the move is not viable as people
would stockpile poultry for compensation. Households keeping up to
20 poultry should dispose of their birds as soon as possible.
Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Stella Hung
said raising racing pigeons for commercial purposes is regulated
under the existing law. The Hong Kong Racing Pigeons Association
has been asked to tell its members to apply for a license if they
want to raise up to 20 racing pigeons after the household
poultry-keeping ban takes effect.
(Xinhua News Agency February 8, 2006)
