Hong Kong will increase poultry imports from China's mainland to meet growing demands during the Chinese New Year holidays, while stepping up prevention measures against avian influenza affecting the region.

Live chicken imports from the mainland will be increased for the holiday celebration beginning on Jan. 28 to meet surging demand, the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) said on Friday.

The number of live chicken imports from the mainland will be relaxed from 30,000 to 70,000 per day during the holidays, said a spokesman for the HKSAR Health, Welfare and Food Bureau.

The decision was made after the authorities had assessed the latest situation regarding avian influenza outbreaks in the mainland and the public demand for live chicken.

Hong Kong has heavily relied on fresh agricultural products from the mainland on a daily basis.

The HKSAR government, however, has earlier suspend poultry imports, with outbreaks of bird flu reported in some parts of China and many countries around the world.

In the past two months, Hong Kong suspended poultry imports from at least four mainland provinces and a Canadian province as a precaution against the spread of the epidemic.

Chicken, duck and other poultry products are important materials for many favorite dishes of Hong Kong's Cantonese-style cuisine.

Despite of local media's close coverage of outbreaks and infection cases in the same region and around the world, Hong Kong public's love for the dishes made of poultry has never been on the ebb.

Walking through the city's prosperous markets, one will be greeted by a large number of stalls selling fresh-killed chicken, roasted goose or grilled pigeon with honey -- all have customers waiting in lines and the prices have remained just stable.

With the limits on poultry imports in effect, stores retailing poultry products find themselves less busy for there's not so much to be sold.

"At present, the capacity that retail outlets can handle each day is drastically reduced," noted the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau.

Thus, after long consideration of the situation, the Hong Kong authorities give green light to more mainland chicken imports for the Chinese New Year.

Along with the increased import quota is the enhancement of the government campaign to prevent the avian influenza virus from getting into the territory.

Hong Kong authorities on Thursday reminded its citizens to be cautious when traveling to Turkey and other countries having bird flu outbreaks, giving on-line advice as how to cut down the risk of being infected by the virus.

As to the retailing sector, extra rest days have been ordered to fresh markets selling poultry so as to give sellers enough time to thoroughly disinfect their shops.

The government also warned that the increased imports measure could be put into a halt whenever it threatens the city's zero- breakout record.

If human or poultry avian influenza infection was found in the neighboring Guangdong Province or Hong Kong prior to or during the period for more poultry imports, the government would immediately suspend live chicken imports, said the spokesman.

Source: Xinhua