Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan started her Beijing trip today by visiting officials to discuss live poultry supply and food safety.
Prof Chan met with Vice Minister of the State General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection & Quarantine Li Yuanping and Vice Minister of Agriculture Qu Dongyu, expressing the wish for the early resumption of live poultry supply from the Mainland to Hong Kong.
Referring to the trial of the H5-H7 avian influenza bivalent vaccine on some Mainland farms, Prof Chan said she hopes it can be introduced to the registered Mainland farms supplying live poultry to Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is also making preparations for introducing the vaccination against H7 avian influenza to Hong Kong farms, on top of the H5 vaccine which has been in use for years, she added.
Prof Chan relayed the hope of the Hong Kong trade to export bird's nest products to the Mainland and the discussions were positive and pragmatic.
The Mainland officials indicated they will explore with the HKSAR Government the arrangements for inspection and quarantine of bird's nest between Hong Kong and the Mainland.
They also discussed the arrangement for the transfer of horses between Hong Kong and Conghua, Guangzhou, to take forward the quarantine-free transportation of local racehorses by vehicle to the Equine Disease-free Zone in Conghua.
Prof Chan then called on Director-General of the Department of Taiwan, Hong Kong & Macao Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce Sun Tong.
They discussed the supply of food to Hong Kong from the Mainland and agreed to continue to maintain close contact to ensure the steady supply and safety of food products from the Mainland to Hong Kong.
Prof Chan will attend a meeting on the Belt & Road Initiative and pay a courtesy call on the Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office tomorrow.
