Poultry stall operators and the public are reminded that the first rest day for this year will fall on January 10.

On that day, operators of market poultry stalls and fresh provision shops must slaughter all live poultry remaining on their premises before noon, and suspend business in the afternoon and evening to carry out thorough cleansing and disinfection.

All poultry stall retailers are urged to strictly observe the rest day conditions.

They must not remove any live poultry from their premises to avoid slaughtering of the unsold live poultry before the start of the rest day.

Failure to comply leads to licence cancellation

The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department staff will inspect each poultry outlet on the rest day. Failure to comply with the rest day conditions will lead to immediate cancellation of their licence or termination of their market-stall tenancy.

Live poultry will still be on sale in the morning of January 10, though none will be sold from noon until the morning of January 11.