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The daily quota of imported live chickens will be set at 20,000 if the temporary ban is lifted, Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr York Chow says, adding the ceiling will be reviewed in mid-April.
After meeting poultry industry representatives today, he said if there is no other human infection case and no avian influenza outbreak in Guangdong, the Government will resume imports on March 27. However, birds on licensed local chicken farms will be limited to two million. He said he is aware this will impact the trade.
"As such, we have, since July 2004, made available nearly $600 million in phases to help the voluntary exit of the trade to switch to other business. This covers farmers, wholesalers, retailers and transporters."
For the longer term, the Government is seeking a site in the New Territories that is relatively far from residential areas but in proximity to poultry farms for the development of a poultry slaughtering plant which is expected to take three years to complete.
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