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latter. It is acceptable to provide for segregation by means of a wall to full height or the provision of a chilling cabinet with a lid or self-closing door for dressed poultry. It is a commercial decision for the individual stall lessees as to whether they choose to sell dressed poultry in their stalls. The Council has no plans to carry out any modification works for our market poultry stalls. However, in connection with the avian flu incident, the Department has informed stall lessees and Fresh Provision Shop licensees of the provision of Government's low-interest loan to help them to resume business. At the same time, we have made suggestions to them on how the loan may be used, including the purchase of a chilling cabinet for the sale of dressed poultry.
MR. CHAN KWOK-LEUNG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, from the water birds segregation policy to the avian flu incident and from the remedial measures at a late stage to the new policy before us now, poultry retailers were at a loss what to follow. It was only recently that the Agriculture and Fisheries Department (AFD) announced retailers were prohibited from selling different kinds of poultry on the same premises. Since some are wild birds like partridges not subject to H5N1 testing, they are not to be sold. As to whether the AFD would test various kinds of poultry for H5N1, no decision has yet been made. This Council is responsible for issuing licences to poultry traders and Fresh Provision Shops as well as the leasing of market stalls. When loss is inflicted on traders, who is to be responsible?
Besides partridges, American partridges, pheasants, and guinea fowls are grouped as wild poultry as well. Can such species widely popular among our citizens be sold at poultry stalls?
Will the AFD or will this Council request AFD to run H5N1 tests on the above wild birds? If not, traders will not be able to sell the items. Although in the tenancy agreements, selling such birds is permitted, but the law forbids it.
My second follow-up question concerns the statement by the Chairman of the Select Committee that Government should be responsible when loss is inflicted on poultry traders. We know that up till now, the import of water birds is still forbidden. I wonder if the Chairman knows whether geese and ducks can be imported at the end of this month. If they cannot be imported and the case drags on, will this Council be obliged to sue Government for compensation on behalf of licensed Fresh Provision Shops and market poultry stall tenants?
During the avian flu incident, we saw that Government and this Council devised new policies, including the need to segregate right up to the ceiling stalls selling water birds and live chicken at the same time. We are asking stall operators of PUC markets to make modifications. As for modification of stalls on the Western Wholesale Food Market into a distribution market, the AFD has asked ASD to carry out modification works. Why is it that a different line is taken within Government? This Council issues licences for stalls managed by the AFD, and modification works there are carried out by the ASD. For poultry stalls in
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PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
latter. It is acceptable to provide for segregation by means of a wall to full height or the provision of a chilling cabinet with a lid or self closing door for dressed poultry. It is a commercial decision for the individual stall lessecs as to whether they choose to sell dressed poultry in their stalls. The Council has no plans to carry out any modification works for our market poultry stalls. However, in connection with the avian flu incident, the Department has informed stall lessees and Fresh Provision Shop licensees of the provision of Government's low interest loan to help them to resume business. At the same time, we have made suggestions to them on how the loan may be used including the purchase of a chilling cabinet for the sale of dressed poultry.
MR. CHAN KWOK-LEUNG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, from the water birds segregation policy to the avian flu incident and from the remedial measures at a late stage to the new policy before us now, poultry retailers were at a loss what to follow. It was only recently that the Agriculture and Fisheries Department (AFD) announced retailers were prohibited from selling different kinds of poultry on the same premises. Since some are wild birds like partridges not subject to H5N1 testing, they are not to be sold. As to whether the AFD would test various kinds of poultry for HSNI, no decision has yet been made. This Council is responsible for issuing licences to poultry traders and Fresh Provision Shops as well as the leasing of market stalls. When loss is inflicted on traders, who is to be responsible?
Besides partridges, Americam partridges, pheasants and guinea fowls are grouped as wild poultry as well. Can such species widely popular among our citizens be sold at poultry stalls?
Will the AFD or will this Council request AFD to rim H5N] tests on the above wild birds? If not, traders will not be able to sell the items. Although in the tenancy agreements, selling such birds is permitted, but the law forbids it.
My second follow-up question concerns the statement by the Chairman of the Select Committee that Government should be responsible when loss is inflicted on poultry traders. We know that up till now, the import of water birds is still forbidden. I wonder if the Chairman knows whether geese and ducks can be imported at the end of this month. If they cannot be imported and the case drags on, will this Council be obliged to sue Government for compensation on behalf of licensed Fresh Provision Shops and market poultry stall tenants?
During the avian flu incident, we saw that Government and this Council devised new policies including the need to segregate right up to the ceiling stalls selling water birds and live chicken at the same time. We are asking stall operators of PUC markets to_make_modifications. As for modification of stalls on the Western Wholesale Food Market into a distribution market, the AFD has asked ASD to carry out modification works. Why is it that a different line is taken within Government? This Council issues licences for stalls managed by the AFD and modification works there are carried out by the ASD. For poultry stalls in
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