Last year saw 76 visitors entering Hong Kong through land boundary check points or the airport prosecuted for illegal poultry imports, Secretary for Food & Health Dr York Chow told lawmakers today.

Replying to lawmaker Frederick Fung's query, Dr Chow said apart from inspections at boundary checkpoints, the Centre for Food Safety mounts joint operations with Customs to crack down on illegal poultry imports.

The Quarantine Detector Dog Programme has also been launched since Chinese New Year to help detect the illegal import of animal and meat products at checkpoints.

On avian flu cases, Dr Chow said there were eight birds found infected with H5N1 virus in Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, Sham Shui Po, South and Islands districts in the past six months.

He said measures have been taken to address Sham Shui Po residents' concern over the roosting of house crows, with 552 house crow eggs and chicks removed and 281 house crows caught so far.

The Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department will maintain regular contact with the Sham Shui Po District Council and assess the effectiveness of these measures and how it might be enhanced.