No decision on Lunar New Year chicken imports
The government said it had not decided how many mainland chickens to allow into Hong Kong to meet the increased demand for live poultry during the Lunar New Year. Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food Carrie Yau Tsang Ka-lai, said public health was the main concern and the possibility of a bird flu outbreak could not be ruled out.
Yuen Kwok-yung, a microbiologist at the University of Hong Kong, warned that an increase in imports would see a corresponding rise in the bird flu threat. Professor Yuen said the government should not bow to pressure for more live poultry.
Immigration busy as holidays come to end
A surge of Hongkongers returning to the city was reported as the Christmas holiday period drew to a close. The Immigration Department expected about 205,000 people to pass through the Lowu control point and said it would open as many as 100 clearance counters along with 53 self-service channels, depending on how the situation developed. Travellers should be able to complete immigration procedures within 15 minutes.
Three suspects arrested over series of robberies
