A spokesman of the Hong Kong government said on Tuesday that the government would suspend the import of live birds and poultry meat from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) with immediate effect.

The spokesman for Hong Kong's Health, Welfare and Food Bureau said the decision was made in view of the reports released by the Korea Central News Agency that a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected in chicken farms near Pyongyang and Hadang.

"No live birds and poultry meat will be allowed to be imported from DPRK until further notice," the spokesman said. 

(Xinhua News Agency March 29, 2005)