The bird was one of six carcasses found on Leighton Road in Causeway Bay. Further tests are being conducted on the dead spotted munias, Dr Thomas Sit, assistant director of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, told reporters yesterday.

The test results on the munias, a type of finch, will be available in the next few days, he said.

Hong Kong is more vulnerable to avian flu from January to March due to possible contamination from migratory birds, according to the health authority.

Sit's department has enhanced checks on farms and pet shops, but has found no other problems so far.

Farm and shop owners have been urged to remain vigilant and adopt bio-security measures, while their workers should ensure good hygiene practices, the department said.

Meanwhile, inspection of imported poultry and market stalls will be strengthened, and doctors will be kept informed of any developments. Medical workers are required to notify the Center for Health Protection of any suspected avian flu cases.

A new round of village inspections will also be conducted to make sure people don't keep poultry in their back yards, Sit said.

He urged the public to avoid contact with wild birds. People should wash their hands thoroughly if they do encounter birds, he said.

Last year, officials tested 11,000 birds for the H5 strain of avian flu and found 17 positive results, he said.

Hong Kong aggressively tests for bird flu because it first appeared there in 1997, when the disease jumped to humans and killed six people. The outbreak prompted the government to slaughter the entire poultry population, about 1.5 million birds.