Safety assured: Inspection and quarantine measures will be stepped up to ensure live chickens imported into Hong Kong are healthy for public consumption.

The number of daily live chicken imports from the Mainland will increase temporarily from 30,000 to 50,000 from December 18 to 20 to meet increasing demand as the Winter Solstice approaches.

The quantity of live chickens from local farms will be roughly the same as the import level.

The Health, Welfare & Food Bureau said from December 15 to 17, the daily imports of Mainland live chickens will rise from 30,000 to 35,000.

At present, retail outlets can only accept a supply of up to  60,000 live chickens each day, a 25% cut compared with the past.

The temporary arrangements are in place to meet the increase in public demand for live chickens during the festive period. A quick turnover in live chicken sales is expected.

The arrangements can also ensure a sufficient supply of live chickens during the festive period while avoiding overstocks of live chickens at the retail level.

Inspection, quarantine measures to be stepped up

The Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department has urged local chicken farmers and wholesalers to avoid supplying excessive amounts of live chickens to retail markets.

The Government will step up inspection and quarantine measures during this period to ensure live chickens imported into Hong Kong are healthy for public consumption.