The first batch of chilled chickens could arrive from the mainland within three or four months, it was announced yesterday, after a series of talks between the Government and mainland authorities.
The idea is to reduce demand for live chickens and lower the risk of another bird flu outbreak.
Lily Yam Kwan Pui-ying, Secretary for the Environment and Food, said talks had been held with the mainland side 'many times' over recent weeks.
'We hope to establish a set of regulations to ensure the imports are up to our hygiene standards. Our people will inspect the mainland slaughterhouses to see how they process the meat. We will allow for importation if they are safe.'
But the chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades, David Ng Tak-leung, questioned the decision. He said most customers still preferred live chickens.
'I know the Government wants to play safe, but Chinese people don't like chilled meat or fish. You can't replace live chickens completely. The Government should better focus on how to improve hygiene standards at chicken farms and prevent outbreaks from happening.'
