The development of a poultry slaughtering plant does not mean banning the entire live-poultry industry, Hong Kong Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food York Chow said Wednesday, adding that chicken farmers may choose to continue their operations.

Chow told lawmakers that the development of the plant will naturally have an impact on the live-poultry retailers, but they may choose to sell chilled chickens.

"As regards rearing of live poultry, we have no timetable to close down chicken farms. Chicken farmers may continue to rear chickens. Nevertheless, their chickens will have to be slaughtered at the plant prior to sale at retail outlets," he said.

Speaking on the slaughtering plant venue, Chow said the Hong Kong government was initially inclined to set up the plant in the Western Wholesale Food Market on Hong Kong Island, as it was once the slaughtering venue for live ducks and geese and some basic infrastructure is readily available.

However, Hong Kong government later found the surrounding environment would inevitably be affected if the plant were to be located in the urban area.

It would be more appropriate to identify a site in the New Territories, which is relatively separated from residential areas and close to poultry farms, Chow said.

The health department of Hong Kong now is on high alert against a possible outbreak of the lethal disease in the special administrative region as dozens of wild birds were found suspected H5N1 virus.

(Xinhua News Agency March 2, 2006)