Housewives remain scared to put chicken back on the dining table with poultry hawkers reporting business down 20 per cent six months after the import ban was lifted.
Hawkers said bird-flu fears coupled with high wholesale prices had driven at least 50 operators out of business.
The Government lifted a ban on mainland chicken imports in February and imposed new hygiene and import rules.
There have been no new cases of bird flu this year but the Department of Health says it will maintain checks until the end of the year.
Eighteen people contracted the H5N1 virus last year and six died.
Tam Shun-wo, chairman of the Hong Kong Poultry Vendors Association, said: 'Most housewives are still too scared to buy chickens, while others buy only wings.
