HONG KONG: The discovery of nine more dead birds has prompted the government to launch a territory-wide inspection in search of illegal backyard poultry operations. The nine birds were found on Lautau Island over the past two days.

The question of whether there has been an outbreak of avian flu virus on the island remains under investigation, the government admitted.

Yesterday, five dead birds including four chickens were found in Sha Lo Wan; three more dead birds were located in Shum Wat Wan.

The body of a goose was discovered in Shum Wat Wan on Sunday.

These are the latest discoveries on Lantau, after the remains of a goose and two ducks were found on January 29 and 31 on a beach near Sha Lo Wan football pitch.

After inspecting Sha Lo Wan yesterday, Acting Deputy Director of Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Liu Kwei-kin said the agency would conduct tests to determine whether the dead birds carried the avian flu virus.

He said at the moment the agency can not establish where the dead birds originated, or whether an outbreak of avian flu on a significant scale is in progress on Lantau.

Since there are no poultry farms on nearby Sha Lo Wan, he said his department will step up inspections to determine whether the dead birds are connected to illegal backyard poultry rearing operations.

"So far, there is no evidence to suggest there is backyard poultry in nearby villages," he said.

To find out whether the dead birds were washed ashore from the mainland, he said his department would exchange information with mainland authorities.

The Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department (AFCD) expected it would finish inspecting villages on north Lantau by today.

A second phase will expand inspections to all of Lantau and Hong Kong in a joint effort with the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department.

A spokesman for AFCD said inspection areas would include villages.

Liu said the department also plans to increase public education programs to warn that backyard poultry could spread avian flu in the community.

He stressed those who keep illegal backyard poultry would have the birds confiscated and face prosecution.

The agency expects to get a better picture of where the dead birds came from after conducting more tests and gathering more information in the next two days, he said.

Studying weather conditions and ocean currents could also help to determine where the birds originated, he added.

Staff from the AFCD have removed the carcasses for medical tests and continued to clean up Sha Lo Wan yesterday.

The discovery of dead birds in Sha Lo Wan has left local beaches nearly deserted, in proximity to where the carcasses were found. Villagers are fearful of walking through nearby areas. Villagers also said they had seen bird carcasses washed ashore from time to time.

They said from now on they would stay away from the beach and refrain from harvesting oysters in the area.

(HK Edition 02/03/2009 page4)