Mong Kok Bird Garden to reopen

July 25, 2012

The Yuen Po Street Bird Garden in Mong Kok will re-open to the public tomorrow. 
 
It was closed for 21 days after the H5N1avian influenza virus was detected in a swab sample collected from a bird cage holding Oriental magpie robins at a pet bird shop.
 
The Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department said today a total of 124 swab samples collected from the Bird Garden since July 5 all tested negative for H5N1.
 
Before the reopening, all shops and relevant departments, including the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department and Leisure & Cultural Services Department, have thoroughly cleansed and disinfected the premises again today.
 
To relieve their financial hardship during the temporary closure, the government provided the 69 shop owners, including 18 licensed pet bird stalls and other stalls selling various related goods, in the Bird Garden with a one-off ex-gratia payment of $12,000 each and a one-month rental waiver.