Food Safety, Environmental Hygiene, Agriculture and Fisheries | 201
avian influenza viruses into the industry with the ultimate goal of preventing human exposure to avian influenza viruses.
As part of this strategy, samples are collected on a daily to monthly basis from both healthy and sick or dead birds on poultry farms, wholesale poultry markets and retail poultry markets, captive birds in recreation parks, pet birds in pet shops and the Mongkok Bird Garden, and wild birds in wetlands, country parks and elsewhere. These samples are then cultured to detect avian influenza viruses. As a result of the regional outbreak in 2004, the number of surveillance samples for avian influenza testing in pet birds, wild birds and birds in recreation parks was increased. Additionally, to enhance early detection of H5N1 virus incursions, the use of rapid (real-time) PCR testing for H5 virus was increased on local and imported poultry prior to entry to wholesale poultry markets. The AFCD stepped up monitoring and surveillance of local poultry farms during the Mainland outbreak, which included a daily inspection and testing of dead birds picked up from all chicken farms from early February until May. During 2004, AFCD and the Department of Microbiology at the University of Hong Kong conducted virus cultures for avian influenza viruses on over 54 800 samples from poultry and other birds and AFCD conducted over 22 900 real- time PCR tests for H5 virus on local and imported poultry.
Due to the suspension of day-old chick imports from the Mainland, the AFCD also assisted local farmers in establishing local hatcheries. During the year, 18 hatcheries were established with a combined capacity of around 1.2 million eggs.
During 2004 H5N1 viruses have only been isolated from three migratory wild birds. There has been no evidence of H5N1 infection in local or imported poultry, pet birds or captive birds in recreation parks despite major outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza in the region during 2004.
Markets and Cooked Food Markets
The FEHD operates 104 public markets (including 25 free-standing cooked food markets) with about 11 720 occupied stalls selling commodities ranging from fresh food to household items.
To improve the cleanliness of public markets, the department enhanced the intensive cleansing of common areas and facilities, and inspection of their cleanliness. A monthly cleansing day was introduced from November 2003 under which stall tenants are required to thoroughly cleanse their own stalls to a level acceptable to the FEHD. A new streamlined system of sanction took effect in November 2003, whereby warning letters are issued to operators who have breached tenancy conditions.
Hawkers
The FEHD maintains control over hawking activities in Hong Kong. During the year, 82 796 raids were carried out and 19 335 convictions secured in the courts for offences related to hawking.