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Hong Kong is facing an increasing threat of the outbreak of avian influenza but the government will spare no effort in safeguarding the public from the lethal virus, an official said Thursday.

Carrie Yau, the permanent secretary for health, welfare and food bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, made the remarks at a committee meeting Thursday afternoon to review the precautionary measures adopted by various relevant departments to guard against bird flu.

Yau, also the chairperson of the Inter-Departmental Action Coordinating Committee, said there was no room for complacency and the government should continue to be on high alert and be prepare for the bird flu threat.

HKSAR has stepped up its precautionary measures and strengthened surveillance on wild birds as well as poultry farms and stalls in recent weeks.

Customs officers, in conjunction with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, have also tightened inspections at sea, land and air boundaries to deter smuggling activities on birds and poultry.

To reduce the risk of H5N1 infection among poultry, Hong Kong has banned all backyard poultry as of Monday.

The AFCD and the Environmental Protection Department will continue to inspect the villages to enforce the ban and seize backyard poultry.

Yau said the international community, including some European countries, had adopted similar precautionary measures to restrict contact between humans and birds following discovery of dead birds infected with H5N1.

Noting the safety concerns of some workers involved in the enforcement exercise, Yau stressed that appropriate measures like providing with the necessary protective equipment would be taken to protect workers from exposure to health risks in the operations.

(Xinhua News Agency February 17, 2006)