The Hong Kong Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced Tuesday that it will reopen three urban aviaries from March 28 as there has been no new case of birds infected with H5 virus recently.

 

According to the department, the aviaries of Hong Kong Park, Kowloon Park and the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens will reopen to the public as no new case of birds contracted H5 virus found for the past 21 days within a three-kilometer radius of the three parks.

 

The three aviaries have been closed since Jan. 4 as a precautionary measure against the spread of avian influenza.

 

A spokesman for the department said that during the closure period, the Senior Veterinary Officer and staff had been keeping a close watch over the health of the birds in the aviaries, and all birds were in a satisfactory health condition.

 

"We will remain vigilant and keep cleansing the aviaries three times a day to maintain a high level of hygiene," the spokesman said.

 

He reminded people to observe good personal hygiene and not to touch birds or their droppings when visiting the aviaries or parks.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 28, 2007)