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Following is a transcript of remarks (English portion) made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, after attending a public function this afternoon (January 5):
Reporter: (On the risk of avian influenza.)
Secretary for Food and Health: The risk of avian influenza among birds, particularly wild birds, is always high in wintertime in this region because of the migration of wild birds and seasonal birds. The avian flu virus is usually much more susceptible to infection among birds within this period of time. But more important is to segregate the wild birds from the local poultry. This is the most important point and this is the reason why we have very strong biosecurity measures in our local farms. We also ensure that the imported chickens from the Mainland are from authorised farms that have strong biosecurity as well as vaccination measures. So far, the (situation of) chickens imported last year had been quite satisfactory. I do not see that the risk of chickens being infected is very high but we still have to stay vigilant all the time.
Reporter: (On local farmers' requests for allowing more local chickens to be sold in the retail markets.)
Secretary for Food and Health: We will allow a more flexible quota for them to come to the market every day. But we also have to respect the consumers' desire to buy live chickens in the few days after January 12. We will not allow any chicken to stay overnight in the retail markets. That is a very important regulation we have to upkeep.
Reporter: (On Mainland women giving birth in Hong Kong.)
Secretary for Food and Health: As the Chief Executive has already mentioned our concern to the Central Government, our relevant bureaux will talk to the Mainland authorities on how to tackle this problem together. I think I am not in the position to comment on what they are doing because this is not under my portfolio.
Reporter: (On the Hospital Authority's measures to tackle this issue.)
Secretary for Food and Health: You mean the capacity of the maternity services? So far, we are able to cope with the requirement that is for both Mainland as well as local mothers. Of course, the priority is always given to the local mothers and we do not set any quota for local mothers at all.
Reporter: (On Legionnaires' Disease.)
Secretary for Food and Health: According to the bacteriologists, when there is any place with water, there will be Legionella bacteria. I think this is not realistic that we can get rid of all the bacteria. It is important to ensure that the bacteria do not multiply and grow in the environment. I think this is more important. So if we have stagnant water or water both stagnant and at the right temperature, the bacteria will start to multiply and grow. It is important for the water supply system to get rid of those so-called "dead spaces" that might have such an environment for the bacteria to grow in. According to the treatment we have done for the Legislative Council building, the Chief Executive's Office as well as our Tamar Central Government Offices, we feel that we have reduced the majority of the bacteria in the system. But we are still doing some sample testing in the coming week. Some of the samples have been already collected one or two days ago from those places that have tested positive. If, in the next four or five days, we can prove that there is no growth (of bacteria) from these samples, we can declare that it is relatively safe.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Thursday, January 5, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:57
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