The Bird Lake and Chinese Garden ponds in Kowloon Park will be reopened tomorrow (February 17), after temporarily closed for some 50 days due to avian flu there.

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department has confirmed that the birds in the park are now avian influenza virus free.

The last isolation of avian influenza virus in the Park occurred in the first week of January this year.

According to international quarantine standards, an avian flu infected area may be reopened if no more new cases are found for 28 consecutive days.

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department closed the bird ponds at Kowloon Park on December 21, after four ducks and one swan were found dead during regular inspections.

The dead birds were handed over to AFCD for examination, and were found to have been infected with H5 avian influenza virus.

All other ducks, geese and swans were placed under quarantine for six weeks, during which they were vaccinated twice against the avian flu.