The inclusion of Hong Kong in the bird embargo notice issued by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is unwarranted, Hong Kong's Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food Yeoh Eng-kiong said Thursday.

The CDC Wednesday ordered an immediate ban on the import of all birds from a number of Southeast Asian countries and regions, including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

In a letter to CDC Director Julie Gerberding, Yeoh pointed out that the measures they have adopted have been effective in averting an H5 avian influenza outbreak in Hong Kong despite the extensive and rapid spread of the disease in Southeast Asia.

"In fact, since our imposition of the requirement for all chickens to be vaccinated with the H5 vaccine, we have found no evidence of H5 infection in Hong Kong at all," he said.

Yeoh urged the CDC to reconsider its embargo notice on Hong Kong and looked forward to an early lifting of the embargo.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong's Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food Carrie Yau has written to all consulates general and members of International Business Chambers in Hong Kong to explain the current situation and lobby their support in opposing any bans on Hong Kong exports of poultry and related products.

(Xinhua News Agency February 5, 2004)