Press Releases
Transcript of remarks by SHWF on avian influenza
Following is a transcript (English portion) of remarks made by the Secretary for
Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, at a stand-up media session at the
Legislative Council Building today (March 14):
Reporter: Dr Chow, can you also respond to protesters' action today?
Dr Chow: First of all, we understand their concern and we are also sympathetic
to their feelings. However, I think we are facing a very important issue of
public health safety in terms of the avian flu. We must ensure that the number
of chickens in Hong Kong is under control and also be able to cope with any
contingency in case of need. We will be meeting with the trade again and again,
particularly after we have understood the situation in Guangdong a bit better by
the end of the week. So we will be able to convince them. First of all, we would
like to ensure that Hong Kong's environment is safe from avian flu but at the
same time, we also want to allow the trade to continue as much as it can. But
they must make some compromises in terms of the number of chickens to be
imported.
(Please also refer to the
Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Issued at HKT 12:03
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