Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr York Chow says it is not necessary to require travellers to fill in health-declaration forms at boundary checkpoints, as there is no general outbreak of avian flu in Guangzhou.

Speaking to the media at Central Government Offices this morning, Dr Chow said more than 300,000 people travel through boundary checkpoints to and from Shenzhen everyday, and implementing health declarations would  hinder passenger flow.

He said as there is only one confirmed avian flu case in Guangzhou, it is not appropriate to have mandatory health declarations.

Health education stepped up

Dr Chow said Department of Health has already implemented temperature screening for inbound travellers at all immigration control points and enhanced health education for travellers through leaflets and  health message displays.

He said private medical practitioners have also been alerted to report suspected avian flu cases, adding swift tests by the Government laboratory will take only several hours while detailed test results will be available within two days.