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The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will reopen urban aviaries at Hong Kong Park, Kowloon Park and the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens to the public from tomorrow (March 28) as there has been no new case of birds infected with H5 virus for the past 21 days within a three-kilometre radius of the three parks.
The three aviaries have been closed since January 4 as a precautionary measure against the spread of avian influenza.
A spokesman for the department said that during the closure period, the Senior Veterinary Officer and staff had been keeping a close watch over the health of the birds in the aviaries, and all birds were in a satisfactory health condition.
"We will remain vigilant and keep cleansing the aviaries three times a day to maintain a high level of hygiene," the spokesman said.
He reminded people to observe good personal hygiene and not to touch birds or their droppings when visiting the aviaries or parks.
Signs have been put up at the venues to warn visitors not to touch the birds or the droppings.
The spokesman said visitors should not feed birds at the parks and anyone found doing so would be prosecuted.
Ends/Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:23
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