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As any bird flu outbreak will ruin the achievements of last year's economic recovery, Hong Kong government is considering a series of long-term precautionary measures to keep the deadly disease outside the region.

To avoid live poultry slaughtering in wet markets or back alleys, a site near the boundary has been identified for the proposed central poultry slaughtering plant, which will come into operation in 2009, Hong Kong Health, Welfare and Food Bureau said.

With the nearest residential area over 200 meters away, the 10,500-square-meter plant will operate year-long with a daily slaughtering capacity of up to 40,000 chickens and 3,000 pigeons and other small sized poultry except water birds. Its capacity can be expanded for slaughtering up to 60,000 chickens.

The plant, which will cost 200 million HK dollars (US$25.64 million), is expected to be enclosed and comprise three major areas for holding live chickens, slaughtering and distribution. Lorries used for delivering live chickens will go to the plant direct from the boundary or local farms and be cleaned after unloading within the plant.

The district council is scheduled to discuss the issue on April 6. An official tender will be called this year to complete everything including legislation within the next legislative year.

As the government is balancing employment in poultry sales, tourism and catering industries, it is studying compensation for the 3,000 poultry retailers or wholesalers who will be affected by the changes to Hong Kong's chicken supply.

Besides, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has earmarked 10 million HK dollars (US$1.28 million) for the promotion of organic farming and greenhouse production, especially targeted at poultry farmers who may switch to organic farming due to avian influenza. So far, about 120 poultry farmers have attended seminars held by the AFCD for organic cultivation of strawberries, golden cap mushrooms and cherry tomatoes.

Chief Executive Donald Tsang agreed that organic farming can produce food in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner." Diversified development suits Hong Kong's economic need. With a good business outlook, organic farming provides local farmers with a viable alternative and more choices for consumers," he said.

To nature reserves, wetlands and urban parks that are fragile to avian flu, the government begins to exert controls with international criteria.

The Worldwide Fund For Nature, formerly known as World Wildlife Fund, suggests that the government should also follow other international examples in developing a more detailed set of scientific criteria to determine whether to close the reserve in the future as a precautionary measure against bird flu.

"Such clear criteria would not only benefit Mai Po, but also other educational facilities that have been closed because of concern over bird flu, such as the new Wetland Park in Tin Shui Wai, and the aviaries in Ocean Park, Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Gardens, and in the many urban parks," Lew Young, WWF Hong Kong Mai Po Reserve Manager, said.

(Xinhua News Agency April 3, 2006)