The immediate risk of an avian flu outbreak in Hong Kong is low thanks to our good surveillance and vaccination programmes, and there is no sign of breakthrough infection in our farms, Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong says.

Both the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation and Food & Environmental Hygiene Departments have a very intense and close monitoring system for avian flu, he said.

"This intensive surveillance programme will give assurance to the public that we have a very effective programme that will prevent any possibility of any major outbreak of avian flu in Hong Kong," he said.

On the possibility of having a central slaughterhouse, Dr Yeoh said this is only one of the options that has been considered.

"But it is not a total solution. When you look at what has been happening in the region, the infection was brought in by migratory birds."

The Government therefore must look at longer-term issues relating to the risk of 'zoonotic illnesses', diseases that normally affect animals, and how they cross to humans.

When asked whether avian flu will be passed onto pigs and then to humans, Dr Yeoh said experiences have shown that influenza-like viruses will cross species barriers, adding that guidelines have been issued to local pig and chicken farmers in terms of how to segregate the animals.

Live bird imports from Taiwan suspended

The Health, Welfare & Food Bureau said that the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department and the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department would not process any applications for special permits or import licences for importing live birds or poultry meat from Taiwan.

This is a precautionary measure in view of the evolving avian influenza situation in the region.

Hong Kong did not import any live poultry or poultry meat from Taiwan in 2003, but it did bring in a small number of live pet birds from the island.