Policy inconsistency may hit credibility

Unless you are a Cantonese living in Hong Kong, you'd be wondering what the fuss is all about this "live chickens" debate that has been raging sporadically for several years.

Let me explain. Hong Kong people have a special craving for fresh chicken served medium rare. Other than the limited supply from the chicken farms in the New Territories, Hong Kong used to buy truckloads of live chickens every day from the various towns and counties in neighboring Guangdong province.

But this culinary indulgence was brought into question by the repeated threats of an outbreak of the dreaded bird flu epidemic since 2003, prompting the Hong Kong government to propose a ban on the sale of live chicken in the wet markets and other outlets.