Prominent microbiologist Ho Pak-leung yesterday played down reports that chicken-stall operators had harassed him because of his views on containing bird flu, saying he had no fears for his safety.
Professor Ho refused to say whether Chinese-language newspaper reports that he had been intimidated by people from the poultry industry were true.
'I believe Hong Kong is a city of law and order, and everyone can express their opinion. I am not worried that my personal safety will be in danger,' he said at a press conference about public hospital doctors.
Professor Ho, from the University of Hong Kong, also reaffirmed his support for a ban on storing live chickens overnight at wet markets.
'As a doctor, I just think that banning the storing of chickens overnight at wet markets is a way to deter bird flu before introducing central slaughtering' in 2011, he said.
The government has also imposed a 21-day ban on imports of live chickens from the mainland and delivery of birds from local farms to the central Cheung Sha Wan wholesale market.