Poultry Deal Goes to the Wire

However, according to The Standard, the chairman of the Hong Kong Poultry Wholesalers and Retailers Association expects the government to succeed in getting a larger percentage to do so.

"Many owners are not likely to make a decision until the last minute due to differences of opinion with stall operators," said Steven Wong Wai- chuen. "However, between 80 and 90 percent are expected to surrender their licences in the end."

He said that most differences can be seen between stall owners and the operators. Operators want to continue, even with the ban on keeping live poultry overnight, but stall owners favor a buyout.

Secretary for Food and Health York Chow Yat-ngok said that if a lesser percentage of retailers agree by Thursday to surrender their licenses, the government will withdraw its HK $1.1 billion offer to close the live poultry trade.

The overnight ban would continue anyway, he said, describing that restriction as "feasible."

"Although the industry has to make certain adjustments, like taking advance orders from customers or making a careful calculation of the daily demand, we can still maintain a constant supply of between 30,000 and 35,000 chickens a day with the price of chickens remaining very stable."

The buy-out offer would not be adjusted, he said, as it was approved by the Executive and Legislative councils.

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