Secretary for the Environment and Food Lily Yam said that close to 800 chickens in three local markets had died of infections caused by the avian influenza virus.

She added that around 4,700 live birds, including chickens and quails, found in the three markets would be destroyed immediately.

Ms Yam said compensation to be paid to the stall owners at the affected markets was estimated at about HK$1.7 million.

She also stressed that samples taken from sick chickens did not contain the same virus that infected humans in 1997, killing six people.

“DNA tests so far show that this is not, I repeat, is not, the same flu virus as in 1997,” Ms Yam said.

(www.beijingnews.com.cn 05/17/2001)