The ultimate resolution of the bird flu crisis is central slaughtering, said Secretary for Food and Health York Chow yesterday.

The government is reviewing its anti-avian flu measures to contain a possible outbreak following the discovery of the H5N1 virus in several wet markets.

About 3,500 live chickens were culled at retail sites across the territory on Wednesday.

Chow revealed that the government will discuss with the poultry trade on the implementation of daily culling, meaning all unsold chickens will be slaughtered at the end of each day at retail sites.

Such measure has been in place in Macao and Shenzhen.

"There will always be a high risk of bird flu in Hong Kong if we continue using the current prevention measures at retail outlets," he said.

"I understand the trade may not be pleased with the measure, but if daily culling can ensure safety and protect consumers, we should consider it," he added.

According to Chow, the government has been looking at three areas as it traces the source of the virus: whether the virus has mutated; whether there are changes in the chickens' immune system; and whether the government has failed to detect the virus in chickens.

He said so far the government has not detected any viral mutation or changes in the chickens' immune system.

Meanwhile, a government source said central slaughtering may be implemented as soon as 2011.

The source also expressed hope for the trade to agree to the compensation of HK$30 per chicken.

Compensation for the trade will cost the government over HK$50 million according to the rate of compensation in 2001.

Meantime, some has suggested allowing local chicken farms, which are not affected by bird flu, to supply chickens to wet markets.

But the source said since all retail sites have been declared infected areas, no live chickens can be sold.

The source added one case of human infection is all it takes for the government to order a city-wide culling of all chickens.

In another development, Deputy Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene Alice Lau said on a radio program that daily culling at wet markets could involve licensing and leasing issues.

Wong Wai-chuen, chairman of the Hong Kong Poultry Wholesalers and Retailing Association, said the trade objects to daily culling because it has a different mode of operation compared to its counterpart in Macao.

While Macao residents only consume several thousand chickens daily, the figure in Hong Kong is 40,000.

"We will have to kill a lot more chickens if daily culling is to be implemented. We simply can't afford the loss," he said.

He also said the trade cannot accept the 2001 compensation rate (HK$30) because the cost for each chicken has risen to HK$60 since then.

(HK Edition 06/13/2008 page1)