# 2141
Control measures to contain, and hopefully eradicate, the bird flu virus are often viewed as draconian by those affected. Culling, the ban on live poultry sales, and restrictions in movement or trade can all exact a heavy toll on the industry.
After last month's discovery of the H5N1 virus in environmental samples taken from four Hong Kong Markets, new rules were put in place regarding the sale of live birds.
Rules that have not been particularly popular.
Despite the protests of market sellers, customers, and some politicians . . . lawmakers have, so far, rejected calls to end the ban on keeping unsold live poultry overnight.
This from the Hong Kong Standard.
Lawmakers boot out bid to lift poultry ban
Carol Chung
Monday, July 14, 2008
Lawmakers have rejected a motion seeking to overturn a controversial bird flu control measure which bans vendors from keeping unsold live poultry overnight.
They said it was in the interests of public health.
League of Social Democrats' lawmaker Albert Chan Wai-yip sought to repeal the amended Food Business Regulation which bars vendors from keeping live poultry after 8pm.
Chan accused the government of using the ban to divert public attention from the problem of chicken smuggling.
"The government has suggested smuggled chickens can be a reason [for outbreaks of bird flu] but has not followed up on this. The public does not know whether the problem is smuggled chickens or the government's inability to nail down the problem," he said, referring to the discovery of the bird flu virus in four wet markets last June.
"If smuggled chickens are the cause of the bird flu problem, the overnight ban policy does not address the problem," Chan told the Legislative Council.
Hong Kong Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood's Frederick Fung Kin-kee supported the ban but agreed the policy did not target the root of the bird flu problem.
The Liberal Party's Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee suggested the ban could be used as a permanent solution to preserve the tradition of cooking live poultry.
Civic Party's Ronny Tong Ka-wah supported the policy, saying public health should be put before the industry's livelihood concerns.
Secretary for Food and Health York Chow Yat-ngok said the policy, which has been in place for more than 10 days, was working smoothly and did not have a negative impact on the industry.
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