Today is the deadline for live-chicken retailers and wholesalers to hand over their licences under a government buyout. At least 80 per cent are expected to surrender their licences. The earlier 85 per cent threshold for the plan to proceed has been dropped. Under the HK$1.23 billion scheme, introduced to cut the risk of bird flu, stallholders surrendering their licences will get HK$800,000 to HK$3.2 million in compensation, depending on the size of the stall.