Proposals to close poultry farms in any avian flu outbreak take into account views from the trade and experts in safeguarding public safety, Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr York Chow says.

The Health, Welfare & Food Bureau unveiled yesterday its comprehensive plan to lower the bird flu risk. Apart from reducing the live poultry population, regional slaughtering, and a $264-million voluntary surrender scheme for farmers and wholesalers, the plan also proposes the compulsory termination of the trade in an outbreak, entailing the culling of all live poultry in Hong Kong.

Dr Chow said avian flu viruses are becoming more pathogenic, causing higher fatality. The virus can re-assort its genes with those from the human flu virus, acquiring the ability to move easily from human to human and triggering a pandemic.

The virus will spread easily and the risk will be extremely high if there are local avian flu outbreaks involving two or more farms.

Dr Chow said the proposal strikes a balance among different parties, adding the Government will continue discussions with the trade on the proposed ex-gratia payment.