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Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Acting Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, after attending a special meeting of the Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene of the Legislative Council today (February 19):
Reporter: (On $30 compensation for slaughtered birds.)
Acting Secretary for Food and Health: It is actually stated in the legislation that the compensation for culled chickens is (not exceeding) $30 (per bird). We understand the comments from the legislators, but for this time, it is important to have a prompt action to go to the Finance Committee to get the compensation as well as other ex-gratia payments for the traders who were affected by the 21-day stopping of live chicken trading. Therefore, we want to stick with the document that we have prepared to go to the Finance Committee on Friday this time.
Reporter: (On additional compensation.)
Acting Secretary for Food and Health: We understand that the four-month suspension of live chicken (imports) from Mainland China will affect some of the wholesalers as well as the retailers that solely work on the import of live chickens from Mainland China. We would continue our communication with them to understand what are the factors that have been affecting them. We do not exclude any possibility of ex-gratia payment. (We would) understand what has affected them and help and support them during this period.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Issued at HKT 15:26
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