Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department officers will visit Guangdong hatcheries over the coming days and discuss health and quarantine arrangements to prepare for the resumption of day-old chick imports.

The Health, Welfare & Food Bureau said Mainland authorities have endorsed the visit, and the Government will continue close liaison with them on the resumption of live duck and geese imports.

A Hong Kong delegation led by the Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food held meetings with officials of the Ministry of Commerce and the State General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection & Quarantine last week in Beijing. They put forward Hong Kong's request to resume importation of day-old chicks to help the operations of local poultry farmers.

The bureau believes the Mainland market is also facing a shortage in the supply of day-old chicks as production was temporarily suspended during the avian influenza outbreak. It said time is needed for Mainland hatcheries to resume production to normal levels prior to the outbreak.

Mainland officials expressed understanding for our situation and agreed to provide assistance.