The detection of bird flu virus in retail outlets shows the Government's surveillance programme is working effectively.

Deputy Director of Food & Environmental Hygiene Department Cheuk Wing-hing said the department would implement extra measures to curb the virus problem.

He said there would be an extra "Rest Day" on January 10 as an additional precautionary measure against avian influenza during the winter "high risk" season.

The department will also carry out 15 special operations to thoroughly clean and disinfect the poultry stalls in its markets between December 16 and February 19. 

These operations are essential preventive measures and poultry stalls and shops should fully cooperate, he said. 

"Our strategy is to monitor and minimise the risk, which varies in line with environmental changes," he told a press conference.

He also said the department would closely monitor human influenza through its effective sentinel and laboratory surveillance systems. 

The public are reminded to maintain proper personal hygiene and avoid direct contact with poultry. Always clean hands thoroughly after contact with poultry.

Mr Cheuk dismissed allegations that the Government had withheld information relating to the existence of avian influenza viruses in retail markets.

He said that the Department had recently imposed additional licensing conditions on market stalls and fresh provision shops selling live poultry.

* Poultry stalls/shops can sell only live poultry obtained from the wholesale market or other source acceptable to the Director of the department.

* Poultry stalls/shops must report all incidents of abnormal numbers of deaths of poultry found on their premises to the department.

* Upon the Director's notification that H5 avian flu virus has been identified in a specimen collected from the premises, poultry stalls/shops shall immediately slaughter all live poultry and close for business. They must not resume business until the premises have been cleansed and disinfected to the Director's satisfaction.

* Poultry stalls/shops must not remove live poultry from their premises to avoid slaughtering it just before the "Rest Day".

Failure to comply with any one of these additional conditions will lead to immediate termination of tenancy or licence cancellation, Mr Cheuk cautioned.

Department of Health Consultant Dr Tse Lai-yin said there had been no human case of H5 infection in Hong Kong since  the 1997 incident.

Meanwhile, Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department is investigating into the causes and circumstances leading to the death of waterfowl at Penfold Park in Sha Tin. 

The Department is conducting more lab tests to gather information about the H5 avian influenza viruses isolated.

With the advent of winter, AFCD reminds chicken farmers to step up biosecurity measures.