Poultry retailers gave Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food Yeoh Eng-kiong the cold shoulder when he arrived at a Tsuen Wan wet market yesterday to promote the use of gloves.
Dr Yeoh toured the Yeung Uk Road market to inspect the measures being taken against bird flu, but several retailers switched off their lights and shut down their stalls before he arrived at 4pm.
The health minister talked to three retailers - who seemed to be well-prepared for Dr Yeoh's visit, as they all wore aprons, gloves and boots.
Turning to another couple who were not wearing protective gear, Dr Yeoh said: 'I know that wearing gloves is inconvenient, but we have brought some gloves which are easier to wear. Would you please try them on?'
The couple, surnamed Yung, accepted the gloves but did not put them on. Mr Yung told Dr Yeoh that it was difficult to count money while wearing gloves.
'With the gloves on, I cannot tell whether I am being given forged banknotes. Look at this renminbi note! I mistook it for a Hong Kong $100 note,' he said.
After a 20-minute tour of the poultry stalls, Dr Yeoh said the purpose of his visit was to learn the difficulties the trade was facing.
