Dr Chow replied that the department had formulated contingency measures against avian influenza. They covered work procedures for culling poultry, cleaning and disinfecting premises.

'These procedures have already been incorporated into a code of practice and safety guidelines issued to officers in charge in various districts,' he said.

Discussing the collection of bird carcasses, Dr Chow said FEHD had advised officers to use protective gear and maintain personal hygiene.

'A code of practice and safety guidelines on these issues has also been issued. Relevant information is also posted in district environmental hygiene offices and roll-call points for easy reference of staff,' Dr Chow said.

'Workmen IIs in FEHD are staff responsible for collection of bird carcasses. FEHD has distributed a code of practice and safety guidelines to these staff [about 1,200] and their supervisors,' he added.

Up to 1,000 FEHD staff have attended briefings over the past two years on avian influenza. These also covered handling bird carcasses, Dr Chow said.

'Apart from providing suitable protective gear to civil servants and contract staff of various ranks for handling bird carcasses, FEHD also requires its service contractors to provide the same protective gear for their employees,' he added.

Teams of inspectors have been set up earlier this week to impound poultry raised in households - especially in rural villages.

This came after the government passed a law banning people from keeping poultry at home and in backyards. This is to prevent a possible outbreak of bird flu in the territory.

Officials expect the inspections would last six weeks. They said inspectors might seek a court order or help from police to search homes if households refuse to surrender poultry.

In recent weeks, health authorities have discovered eight birds and chickens that had died of the H5N1 strain of bird flu in the territory.

The deadly virus has killed at least 88 people worldwide since 2003.