ENG-2009 — Page 244

184 | Food Safety, Environmental Hygiene, Agriculture and Fisheries

After the implementation of the Government's 'buyout scheme' in 2008, the number of chicken farms fell to 30 and the chicken rearing capacity dropped to 1.3 million birds.

The AFCD runs a training programme for staff who carry out poultry culling, while the AFCD and FEHD conduct culling drills annually.

Human swine influenza in pigs

The Government watches closely the occurrence of human swine influenza (pandemic influenza A H1N1) in pigs, monitoring any possible genetic reassortment, or unusual disease patterns. In 2009, some local and imported live pigs were found infected by the human swine influenza virus. Under the influenza surveillance programme, the AFCD stepped up inspection of local pig farms and the monitoring of the health of pigs raised there. Local pig farmers were reminded to stay vigilant and to implement strictly biosecurity measures and to maintain proper farm and personal hygiene. The FEHD also stepped up inspection of imported live pigs and reminded slaughterhouse staff and people who might have contact with live pigs to pay attention to personal hygiene, and to wear masks and appropriate protective gear while at work.

Public Markets and Cooked Food Markets

The FEHD operates 104 public markets, including 25 free-standing cooked food markets, providing some 14 700 stalls that sell commodities ranging from fresh, cooked food to household items.

To improve the management of public markets and enhance their vibrancy, FEHD conducted utilisation and customer opinion surveys and held consultation forums and district retreats in 2009 to gauge the views of market patrons, tenants and trader associations on positioning, functions, usage as well as improvement

measures.

FEHD also worked on the alignment of tenancy agreements to modernise public market management and to remove inconsistencies in the tenancy terms applicable in the urban districts and the New Territories. It also put forward proposals to address the historical issue of transfers of market tenancies in a pragmatic manner.

To enhance the vibrancy of public markets, the FEHD introduced service trades, snack shops and bakeries to certain markets with vacant stalls, subject to planning permission. New measures were also implemented to promote the leasing of stalls that had been vacant for a long time.

Hawkers

The FEHD regulates hawking activities in Hong Kong. At end of 2009, there were 6 513 hawkers carrying out business in licensed fixed pitch stalls and 535 itinerant hawkers.

Upon completion of the hawker licensing policy review, the FEHD issued new Itinerant (Frozen Confectionery) Hawker Licences to on-street ice-cream vendors,