Hong Kong has made all necessary arrangements for the resumption of day-old chick imports from the Mainland.

Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong told legislators today the measures include agreeing with the Mainland on new inspection and quarantine arrangements and the inspection of five registered Mainland farms supplying chicks.

However, there is not yet a firm timetable for the supply because of domestic production and commercial constraints.

Dr Yeoh said the Government has to act cautiously in handling the resumption of live poultry imports to protect public health.

He said the recent avian influenza epidemic in Asia is unprecedented. Although it is now under control, international health and animal health organisations have cautioned it is likely to become endemic in the region's poultry.

Dr Yeoh said a recent study shows that each year 3.48 million people are in contact with live poultry. Of these contacts, 134,000 have the potential of co-infection of human and avian influenza.

He said according to a scientific study published in the journal Science, it is estimated that 600 human infections would be required for a 50% chance of re-assortment.

"Against the above background, the Government needs to act cautiously in handling the resumption of import of live poultry to protect public health," he said.

Between April 20 and May 11, Hong Kong resumed live chicken imports from the Mainland on a pilot basis. All of the tests for avian influenza were negative, and results on antibody levels were also satisfactory.