The daily quota of imported live Mainland chickens will be further raised to between 18,000 and 20,000 on April 30 for five days, subject to satisfactory tests.

During the second phase of the pilot arrangement for the importation of live chickens from April 25 to 29, about 12,000 live chickens were imported daily from the Mainland.

A further review will be held next month, and subject to continuing satisfactory results in tests conducted on the birds, daily import quantities can be further increased to between 28,000 and 30,000 in the next phase.

These arrangements were made today following meetings with the Ministry of Commerce and the State General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection & Quarantine.

The Government hopes to resume importation of day-old chickens as early as possible to alleviate the impact on the operations of local poultry farmers. Mainland authorities have agreed to provide assistance.

Hong Kong officials also exchanged views with Mainland authorities on the inspection requirements for the importation of chilled pork, which is imported mainly from Thailand and Australia. Only frozen pork is imported from the Mainland.

They were also told that currently there are no exports of pet birds to Hong Kong.