Birds of a feather: 40 Consuls-general in Hong Kong attend a briefing on the Government's measures aimed at preventing avian flu, led by Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Carrie Yau.

The Government will continue to adopt stringent preventive measures to guard against avian influenza in view of the unprecedented viral outbreaks in Asia, the Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Carrie Yau said at a briefing for more than 40 consuls-general today.

In the briefing, Mrs Yau said Hong Kong had taken various measures to minimise the risk of an outbreak of avian influenza and had developed contingency plans for a number of case scenarios.

"There have been grave concerns over the potential health risk of avian influenza to humans. The Government will closely monitor developments in the region and review the need for further preventive measures.

"We stand ready to work closely with our neighbours and international organisations to deal with the imminent threat posed by avian influenza," she said.

Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Director Thomas Chan, Food & Environmental Hygiene Director Gregory Leung, Acting Deputy Director of Health Dr Regina Ching and the consultant-in-charge of the Hospital Authority's Infectious Disease Control Training Centre, Dr Raymond Young, also attended the briefing.