HKBWS BBS » ´ä Æ[ ³¾ ·| ·s »D ²Õ


    
      
        HKBWS BBS » ´ä Æ[ ³¾ ·| ·s »D ²Õ
        (http://www.hkbws.org.hk/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl)
      

        Special Topics ¯S§O¥DÃD >> Wild Birds & Avian Flu ³¥³¾»P¸V¬y·P >>  Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
        
(Message started by: Bob Thompson on Feb 1^st, 2006, 7:39pm)

Title: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by Bob Thompson on Feb 1^st, 2006, 7:39pm

Could we please have further details as to what this means ? Is it closed to ALL people or casual visitors.

Thanks

Title: Re: Mai Po closure
Post by ²`ÂÅ Owen on Feb 1^st, 2006, 7:44pm

According to 2004 closure it apply to All people!

Title: Re: Mai Po closure
Post by Bob Thompson on Feb 1^st, 2006, 7:51pm

Thanks Owen, I had planed to go out tomorrow morning - I guess its Nam Sang Wai instead

Title: Re: Mai Po closure
Post by KK Hui on Feb 1^st, 2006, 8:28pm

The latest Press Release is the one below and did not mention MPNR closure ... ???

Ref :http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200602/01/P200602010226.htm
Temporary closure of aviaries at four LCSD parks
************************************************
The aviaries at four parks managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will be temporarily closed from tomorrow as a precautionary measure against the possible spread of avian influenza, a spokesman for the department said today (February 1).

The walk-in aviaries in Hong Kong Park and Yuen Long Park will be closed, while the aviaries within enclosed areas at the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens and Kowloon Park will be cordoned off. Notices will be put up to inform park visitors of the arrangements.

The department's Senior Veterinary Officer and staff have been keeping a close watch over the health condition of some 1,500 birds kept in the four parks.

"The birds we keep are healthy and not a single case of infection has been detected. The temporary closure is purely precautionary," the spokesman said.

"We have increased the frequency of cleaning the aviaries to three times a day to maintain a high level of hygiene. We have also reminded our staff to strictly follow the guidelines when cleaning bird droppings and handling dead birds found in our venues, "he added.

Signs have been put up at all LCSD venues where there are bird collections or wild birds congregate to remind the public not to touch the birds or their droppings.

As a health precaution, the public are urged not to feed wild birds at LCSD venues.

"It is an offence to feed or attempt to feed any birds at LCSD venues. The department will step up prosecutions against anyone found doing so," the spokesman said.
Ends/Wednesday, February 1, 2006
Issued at HKT 20:13

KK Hui FRPS
www.geocities.com/kkhui_001

Title: Re: Mai Po closure
Post by madsen122020 on Feb 1^st, 2006, 8:32pm

http://hk.news.yahoo.com/060201/12/1kvaa.html

©ú¤é°_Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï

Title: Re: Mai Po closure
Post by Bob Thompson on Feb 1^st, 2006, 8:40pm

Thanks KK, but tonights 7.30 TVB news specificlly said that Mai Po was closed

Title: Re: Mai Po closure
Post by KK Hui on Feb 1^st, 2006, 8:45pm

Thanks, Bob!
Oh well, we can all go home now! :'(

KK Hui FRPS
www.geocities.com/kkhui_001

Title: Re: Mai Po closure
Post by Bob Thompson on Feb 1^st, 2006, 8:51pm

KK, Lets hope that TVB was wrong, maybe somebody from government or WWF will jump in and advise us the situation

Title: Re: Mai Po closure
Post by Andrew on Feb 1^st, 2006, 9:07pm

Nothing yet on the WWF HK web site (21.05)

Title: Re: Mai Po closure
Post by Bob Thompson on Feb 1^st, 2006, 9:19pm

Official Government release that Mai Po is closed

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200602/01/P200602010235.htm

Title: Re: Mai Po closure
Post by Bob Thompson on Feb 1^st, 2006, 9:21pm

Its interesting that TVB released the news about 1.5 hours before the Government Information Services

Title: Re: Mai Po closure
Post by Lew_Young on Feb 1^st, 2006, 9:33pm

Dear All,

Yes, I am sorry that AFCD will be closing Mai Po to all birdwatchers from tomorrow (2 Feb 2006) for an indefinite period. Even the school and public group visits that WWF organises into the Reserve will now all have to be rescheduled and we are now contacting the schools etc. to let them know the news. The only exceptions will be WWF staff working at Mai Po and researchers. In the case of researchers, they will need to write to AFCD to get special permission to have continued access to the Reserve. I would suggest that these researchers contact AFCD directly for more information.

At this moment, we do not know when Mai Po will be opened again but it is expected that the Reserve will be clsoed for several weeks at least.

This is all the news I have at the moment but if anyone has any comments or want an update, then they can telephone the Mai Po office at 2471-6306 or call me personally (96276520) and we will do our best to help.

Regards, Lew Young

Title: Re: Mai Po closure
Post by Bob Thompson on Feb 1^st, 2006, 9:37pm

Thanks Lew for the quick response, lets hope that the closure is only for a short period

Bob

Title: Re: Mai Po closure
Post by miket on Feb 1^st, 2006, 10:23pm

FACT: Sixteen thousand samples have been taken from wild birds at Mai Po to test for H5N1 at Mai Po, I read today in the HKBWS bulletin. Not a single one has been positive.

FACT: Most, if not indeed all, people who have contracted H5N1 type flu worldwide have caught it directly from infected poultry, none from wild birds.

NEWS: Somebody in Sha Tau Kok brings in a poor chicken which has been infected during its brief, miserable life at some filthy chicken factory in Guangdong, it dies  and the HK Govt. closes Mai Po, as well as the aviaries it anachronistically insists on maintaining at the  taxpayer's expense.

REFLECTION: One would like to assume this is because the Govt. wants to prevent the wild birds it has a duty to protect under the Ramsar convention from being infected by this human created disease.

Although if they were clever enough this is the 'spin' they could put on this move, somehow I don't think this is the message that will emerge, rather that they are acting decisively to protect HK people from the filthy disease carriers that we casually permit to come from the north to HK each winter.

The real problem for bird conservation with this move is not that it prevents us from accessing Mai Po, sad as that is, but that it further perpetuates the myth that wild birds are somehow responsible.

Mike Turnbull

¨Æ¹ê¡G¤µ¤Ñ±q»´äÆ[³¾·|¡m·|û³q°T¡nª¾¹D¡A¦b¦Ì®H³¥³¾¨¤W¨ú±oªº ¤@¸U¤»¤d Ó´ú¸Õ¼Ë¥»¤§¤¤¡A¨S¦³¤@Ó ¹ïH5N1§e¶§©Ê¤ÏÀ³¡C

¨Æ¹ê¡G¦b¥@¬É¦U¦a¬V¤WH5N1¬y·Pªº¤H¡A¤j³¡¥÷¡]¦pªG¤£¬O¥þ³¡¡^³£ª½±µ±q¨ü·P¬Vªº®a¸V±o¯f¡A¦Ó¨Ã«D¸g³¥³¾¶Ç¬V¡C

·s»D¡G ¦³¤H¸g¨FÀY¨¤±a¤F¤@¥uÂû¨Ó´ä¡A³o¥u¥i¼¦ªº³¾¦b¼sªF¬Y»êÅ¼ªºÂû¤u¼t¹L¤F´dºG¦Óµu¼Èªº¤@¥Í¡A¨Ã¥B¬V¤W¸V¬y·P¡C³o¥uÂû¦º¤F¡A»´ä¬F©²Ãö³¬¤F¦Ì®H¡A¦P®É¤]Ãö³¬¤F·í§½°í«ù¥Î¯Çµ|¤Hª÷¿úºû«ùªº´XÓ¤£¦X®É©yªº³¶³¾¶é¡C

«ä¦Ò¡G§ÚÌ¥i¥H³o¼Ë³]·Q¡G¬F©²³o¼Ë°µ¬On¼i¦æ°ê»ÚÀã¦a¤½¬ùªº¸q°È¡A«OÅ@³¥³¾¤£¨ü¤HÃþ»s³yªº¯e¯f·P¬V¡C

´Nºâ·í§½°÷Áo©ú¡AÀ´±o¥Î³oÓ¡u²z¥Ñ¡v¥hÃö³¬¦Ì®H¡A¦ý¬Û«H³Ì«á¥X¨Óªºª©¥»·|¬O¡G·í§½±Ä¨ú¤FªGÂ_ªº¦æ°Ê¡A«OÅ@¥»´ä¥«¥Á§K¨ü¦ÃÂ©ªº¡]¨C¦~¥V©u³£¥i¥HÀH«K¦a±q¥_±¤J¤fªº¡^±a¯f¬rªÌ·P¬V¡C

¸T¤î¤H¶i¤J¦Ì®H¥O¤H¡A¹ê¦b¥O¤H¤£§Ö¡A¦ý¬O³o¶µ±¹¬Iªº¯u¥¿¹úºÝ¡A¨ä¹ê¬O¦b©ó·|¶i¤@¨B©µÄò¤HÌ¹ï³¥³¾·|±a¨Ó¸V¬y·Pªº»~¸Ñ¡C

Mike Turnbull

W ¤¤Ä¶

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by martin on Feb 1^st, 2006, 11:31pm

Yes, there were warnings that increased chicken imports could lead to bringing H5N1 from the mainland.
This smuggled bird perhaps from farms that aren't so well controlled (with vaccinations, surveillance) as at least some farms - official suppliers - evidently manage in Guangdong. Very, very tough to maintain good vaccinations and surveillance.

Gotta wonder if part of consignment at reduced prices, after problems at farm(s).

Crested mynah reportedly in Wong Tai Sin.
Just wonder: are birds released at temple there, for good fortune, at Chinese New Year?

Here's press release, with more than the one posted above - mentions Mai Po closure (again, Mai Po does seem easy way for govt to appear to be taking action; remember that before CNY, govt was playing down risks that poultry trade could bring H5N1; even tho this time, smuggled.).
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200602/01/P200602010235.htm

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by LUN on Feb 2^nd, 2006, 12:34am

¬°¤F¨¾¤î¸V¬y·P
¬F©²«Ê¤F¦Ì®H
¦ýÁÙ¦³Ô³¾»E¶°¦b«n¥Í³ò¡B¦y»ó©C¬Æ¦Ü¦Ì®Hªþªñªº³½¶í
®Ú¥»´N¨Sªk¾Ì¦¹¥h¨¾³Æ¸V¬y·P
¥u¬OÂà²¾µø½u§a¡I
nªý¤î¸V¬y·P¬Onªý¤î¤H©M³¾Ãþ¦³±K¤Áªº±µÄ²
¦bµó¥«¤H©M¸V³¾ªº¶ZÂ÷¥u¦³¤@ªO¤§¹j
¦b¦Ì®H¤H³¾¬Û¶Z¦h»ò»·
¬°¤°»ò¤£³sµó¥«¤]«Ê¤F©O¡H
¡u¤HÂû¤À¹j¡v¦ó®É¹ê¦æ©O¡H
ÁÙ¦³¨«¨p¡B©ñ¥Í³¶³¾µ¥¦æ¬°¡A¬°¦ó¤£ºÞ¨î©O¡H
¬°¤°»ò¥u¦³°w¹ïÔ³¾ªº¦æ°Ê¡H¬O¦]¬°³o¼Ë¤£·|¶Ë®`¨ì¬J±o§Q¯qªÌ¡H

«Ê¤F¦Ì®H¡B¨ú®øÀã¦a¤é¬¡°Ê¡B©µ¿ðÆ[³¾¤ñÁÉ
¦n¹³Åã¥Ü¤F¬F©²ªº¨Mµ¦ªGÂ_
¦ý³o¨Ç¨Ã«D¯u¥¿¦³®Äªº±¹¬I
¥u·|¥[«¥«¥ÁªºÃhºÃ©M»s³y®£·W
µ²ªG¬O¬F©²ÁÙn±À¥X§ó¦h¬Fµ¦¥hº¡¨¬¤@¯ë¥«¥Á
¨S§¹¨S¤F

²{¦b¬F©²n°µªºÀ³¬O¥[±j¹ïÂåÀø¨t²Îªº¤ä´©¡B¹jÂ÷¤H©M®a¸V¡B¥´À»¨«¨p¡BºÊºÞ©ñ¥Í³¾Ãþ¡A¦Ó¤£¬OªýÃªÆ[³¾¡B³¥¥~¦Ò¹îµ¥¬¡°Ê¡A§ó¤£À³»s³y®£·W¡C

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by martin on Feb 2^nd, 2006, 9:02am

Seems possible magpie robin and mynah were of captive origin; supposed contact with migratory waterfowl (ducks) seems unlikely.

Yet, Mai Po closed - and no mention of closure of wild bird markets. >:(

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by subbuteo71 on Feb 2^nd, 2006, 5:49pm

Cynically, closures of Mai Po and the aviaries cost nothing and make it looks like the Government has done something. The Government statement before CNY was along the lines of "We have looked at the risks of avain flu and balanced them against the demand for chicken, so we are importing more chickens." And what was the outcome, another case of bird flu, more hysteria and us getting locked out of Mai Po (again!). What are they intending to do with the urban parks? There are birds there. What about the urban area the crested mynah was found in? Will that become a closed area. It is a ridiculous policy.

I find the silence from across the border slightly ominous- if that's were the latest poultry case came from, what are they doing about it? What has happened to the rest of the chickens from the same source?

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by David_Diskin on Feb 2^nd, 2006, 10:05pm

I also can't see the rationale for closing Mai Po.

I would suggest that the HKBWS, as an official body, send a letter to all the major newspapers - English and Chinese - stating the facts that have been outlined on this BBS site (see Mike's post above) and asking the Govt to give a rational, scientific justification for their actions.

dave diskin

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by miket on Feb 2^nd, 2006, 10:35pm

In responding to WWF's message informing us of the closure of Mai Po and the arrangements for the BBR 06 my team have sent WWF the following reply:

"This action will no doubt adversely affect the general public's perception of wild birds and their role in carrying avian flu. Surely the perceived risk is minimal compared to visiting the wet markets in Hong Kong (which will presumably remain open) where people really do come into close proximity with birds, unlike at Mai Po - it may be more appropriate to distribute the hygiene packs at these markets. Similar to two years ago, as wild birds are present everywhere in Hong Kong, this appears to be a farcical and purely political decision on the part of the government who wish to be seen to be doing something, no matter how ludicrous. As this action has no adverse effect on the HK economy, Mai Po is again the scapegoat. As avian flu is probably endemic in Hong Kong, and evidently spreading round the globe, I just hope that there will not be pressure to (in the worst case) permanently close Mai Po and that Mai Po can soon be opened again. Please can the WWF do everything possible to ensure that this happens as soon as possible."

Personally, I can't believe that after all these years since the first outbreak and two years on from the previous closure incident, we still haven't smashed this "link" with wild birds. It's clear that only when birds are put into totally artificial -and literally sickening - levels of proximity to each other i.e. poultry factories and the cage bird trade do they transmit flu to each other so easily, allowing the bug's evolutionary rate to accelerate many times, as its population explodes.

The point that tomorrow I can go and paddle through a mixture of chicken excrement and water at the wet markets but can't even DRIVE the perfectly dry clean road at Mai Po is particularly telling.

Mike Turnbull

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by kumanfai on Feb 3^rd, 2006, 12:06am

Mike has perfectly expressed what I also like to say. It is a shame to Hong Kong to have such an administration being so illogical and irresponsible. All along I could only see so-called experts on TV who kept telling the media their personal views about the issues without any scientific basis. May be the government is very ill-advised after all. It looks to me that the role of the HKBWS has been merely a hobbist group instead of an influential authority. After repeated bad experience, I wish the genuine experts should rise and upstage the pretenders.

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by gjcarey on Feb 23^rd, 2006, 1:30pm

I would also like to add my voice to calls for the Society to take a firmer line regarding the closure of Mai Po (and, as expressed in other threads, the bird trade and bird releases).

With regard to Mai Po, it makes no sense at all to keep it closed, for reasons that have been explained above and elsewhere. I do not understand why the Society has been so quiet on this issue.

It is not that the Society needs to say that visiting Mai Po is risk-free, but that the risk is actually less (and certainly no greater) than it is in urban areas, public parks and wet markets.

Almost all of the birds found so far this winter to have tested positive for H5N1 are species that are commensal with man, and only one (I think) is a water bird, the Little Egret in Tuen Mun. Despite frequent checking of both the WWF Mai Po and KCRC Lok Ma Chau wetlands, no H5N1 cases have been found. Why is Mai Po any less safe than the immediately adjacent fish pond areas where people work and where there is public access?

It would appear from what is happening in HK and from published research that H5N1 is endemic in many species of birds in south China. Thus, the issue is much more widespread than simply Mai Po. Further, it also means that it is likely to continue for some time: are we to tolerate Mai Po being closed indefinitely?

I truly fail to see why the Society is not taking a stronger, official position on this. A press conference and letters to both Chinese and English press are required, initially, followed by meetings with government officials.

Other groups are standing up for their interests at this time; is the Society?

Geoff Carey

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by Bob Thompson on Feb 23^rd, 2006, 3:39pm

While I agree with what Gary has said, I am a little concerned about school groups visiting Mai Po, as some of these young (and some are very young children) may not understand or take notice to there general personal hygine. Especially when yound children go to the floating hides, they must hold the hand rails of the walkway, and to most birders we know that this is a favourite roost for a lot of waterbirds.

Mai Po (except for the floating hides as already mentioned) are surely as safe as Nam Sang Wai

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by gjcarey on Feb 23^rd, 2006, 3:54pm

No problem. Do not take groups out to the boardwalk. The fact is that even before the reserve was closed, there were hardly any visitors anyway.

There is no need for a blanket ban on entry to the reserve. There are ways of arranging things to incorporate some flexibility and allow responsible adults to make their own decisions about a low-risk activity.

Geoff (not Gary!)

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by Bob Thompson on Feb 23^rd, 2006, 4:12pm

I agree with your ban on groups going out to the floating hides - the possible reason for groups not going out before was the tides were always low but with March approaching we have all be waiting eagerly ( since last winter) for the high tides.

Since most of the school and group visits are organised by WWF it is up to them to come forward and suggest to the relevant government department that if the ban is lifted they (WWF) will voluntarily stop group/school visits to the floating hides until advised by the department

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by Lew_Young on Feb 23^rd, 2006, 9:16pm

Dear Bob and others,

To put the records straight, Eric Bohm and I from WWF had a meeting with one of the Deputies Secretaries from Health, Welfare and Food Bureau in November 2005 where we were told that if there was an H5N1 outbreak in Guangdong Province or in HK, then Mai Po would immediately be closed. We countered this by suggesting that instead of closing down MP completly, that the government just sends a public announcement out to the public to tell the public to take more care of their hygeine when they are out in areas with large number of wild birds, in the same way that the Education and Manpower Bureau sent out to schools. Anyone who was concerned with catching birdflu would then opt out of visiting MP but those who still wanted to go, could still visit. We then followed this discussion up with a letter to York Chow outlining the same suggestion. We did not get a formal reply to our letter from the HWFBureau and what do you know, the government closed MP.

WWF is just as fed up as everyone else is and over this past winter, we have jointly organised press meetings with scientists from the Department of Microbiology (HKU), gave numerous newspaper and radio interviews to try and get our point across.

Its not easy trying to get your point across when it is the editors who decides on which angle to take on any issue and the editors will also lean on the side that will sell the most newspaper the next day. By the way, I have heard that Oriental Daily has been one of the worst in getting their facts wrong about wild birds and frequently saying in their editorials that Mai Po should be closed. Despite WWF writing to their editors to get their facts right, we of course, got no reply.

In the coming weeks, we are planning further meetings with AFCD, other government departments, legislative members etc. to see what we can do to get MP opened again, at least for those people with their own permits.

WWF is not enjoying having the reserve closed because amongst other things, our income has dropped and it is unlikely this time (unlike when MP was closed in 2004), that we will get any financial help from government. That means the BBR will be more important than ever in raising funds for the reserve.

At least we are not in as bad a situation as Guan-du Nature Park outside Taipei when they have had to sack half of their staff because of a drop in income because of the fear of bird flu.

Be assured that WWF will do what we can to get the reserve opened again as quickly as we can.

Thank you very much for all your support in the meantime.

Lew

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by Andrew on Feb 23^rd, 2006, 9:52pm

I for one would be happy to visit MPNR and sign a disclaimer. I am not taking Avian Flu lightly. I was fortunate enough to attend a private briefing on the situation as part of my job and our company's contingency planning. The scenario painted was pretty apocalyptic. And yes, I have taken the precaution of getting hold of some Tamiflu as insurance. I also know it may not be effective. Nevertheless as a reasonably well-balanced (I hope) individual with a small grain of intelligence buried somewhere deep in my head, I think I am as much at risk at home amongst the Magpie robins etc as I am at MPNR and frankly I think the risk is miniscule. I can't claim to have read all the learned literature and analysis but I am yet to be convinced that migrating wild birds are the problem rather than domestic poultry or the like. I continue to go birding whenever I can and would be happy to sign a petition advocating the re-opening of MPNR for those who are happy to go there. Nobody is forced to visit! I have no idea what the loss of income to the reserve is or will be but maybe you could find one enlightened editor in HK to carry some some fund raising copy for you. I'm sure if you were prepared to pay for the space even the Oriental daily would carry the WWF viewpoint. Why not an open letter to the government via the SCMP? Why should we miss the Spring migration because a bureaucrat is playing CYA. This is ludicrous.

Andrew

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by Bob Thompson on Feb 24^th, 2006, 6:04am

Thanks Lew for letting us know that WWF having been working hard, behind the scenes, to re-open Mai Po.

Andrew mentioned that nobody is forced to go to Mai Po, this is true for bird watchers but for school visits, I feel that there must be a lot of pressure on children that decide to opt out of the visit, especially from there school friends.

Lew keep up the good work and we are awaiting to hear the good news "that the gates are open again"

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by Cran on Mar 3^rd, 2006, 1:50pm

Quoting from the web:

http://hk.news.yahoo.com/060302/187/1lpg0.html

"Decision to close parks baffles WWF

WWF Hong Kong has challenged the government to spell out the scientific reasons for closing some parks and reserves as part of precautions against bird flu.

The group, whose bird-watching reserve at Mai Po has been closed for a month, has written to the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau seeking clarification."

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by kumanfai on Mar 3^rd, 2006, 9:53pm

Thanks to WWF and Lew who are doing their hard work behind the scene. I believe you have the support of many bird watchers although a call to the HKBWS members for a more vocal stand appears to be in vain. It is a pity that HK people usually are silent on non-economical issues. Bird watchers in HK are perhaps no exception. :(

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by KK Hui on Mar 9^th, 2006, 8:17pm

Any chance that Mai Po Nature Reserve will be re-opening soon? ???

Looks like the spring migration of shorebirds is busted! :'( :'( :'(

KK Hui FRPS
www.geocities.com/kkhui_001

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by World Cup 2006 on Mar 9^th, 2006, 11:50pm

Yes. Re-open please and now ........... :-[ :-[ :-[

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by Lew_Young on Mar 10^th, 2006, 10:22pm

Dear All,

On the morning of Tuesday 14 March, the LegCo Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygeine will be discussing a paper jointly drafted by the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau, AFCD, Food and Environmental Hygeine Department and the Department of Health entitled "Progress of Comprehensive Plan of Action to Deal with the Global Problem of Avian Influenza". You can download the paper through this link to the LegCo website...

http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr05-06/english/panels/fseh/papers/fe0314cb2-1335-03-e.pdf

If you read through it, you will find that all of government's planned actions is focused on controlling the live poultry trade in HK and minimizing contact between people and live poultry. Nothing is mentioned about;

* why Mai Po, the Wetland Park and the aviaries in HK are closed and on what condition they will be opened again,

* the dead wild birds found with H5N1 in the urban areas but those areas were not closed off but only disinfected and people allowed to carry on using them,

* why early morning birdwatching classes have been cancelled in the urban parks but the parks are still opened and throusands of people allowed to walk through them each day.

WWF has already written to the Chairman of the Panel, Hon. Fred Li Wah-ming mentioning these points and asking him to raise them at the Panel meeting. If anyone in the Society wants to add their voice, then please write to the Hon. Fred Li Wah-ming as soon as possible, preferable before Monday night (I know it is a rush), so that your elected representatives in LegCo know about YOUR views in time for the meeting.

The e-mail contact for Fred Li is <info@liwahming.org.hk> and I would also suggest that you copy it to Dr. Kwok Ka Ki <kkk@kkkwok.org> who is the representative for the Medical profession in LegCo and who also sits in on the same Panel, and to copy it to the LegCo e-mail accounts to make sure thay get the message <pi@legco.gov.hk>.

You can also bcc any message to WWF <maipo@wwf.org.hk> and to the HKBWS so that we can a record of how many people has written.

Thank you for all your support!!!

Lew Young

¦U¦ì¡G

½Ã¥ÍºÖ§Q¤Î¹ª«§½¡Bº®Å@¸p¡B¹Àô¸p©M½Ã¥Í¸p¤wÁp¦X¯óÀÀ¤F¤@¥÷¤å¥ó¡A¦W¬°¡mÀ³¥I¥þ²y¸V¬y·P°ÝÃDªº¥þ±¦æ°Êp¹ºªº¶i®i¡n¡A¤T¤ë¤Q¥|¤é¦¤W·|¥Ñ¥ßªk·|¡u¹ª«¦w¥þ¤ÎÀô¹Ò½Ã¥Í¨Æ°È©eû·|¡v°Q½×¡A¤å¥ó¥i¥H±q¥ßªk·|ªººô¶¤U¸ü¡G

¡@¡@¡@¡mÀ³¥I¥þ²y¸V¬y·P°ÝÃDªº¥þ±¦æ°Êp¹ºªº¶i®i¡n (http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr05-06/chinese/panels/fseh/papers/fe0314cb2-1335-03-c.pdf)

¬F©²ªº¦³Ãöp¹º¡A¥þ³¡¶°¤¤¦b±±¨î»´äªº®a¸V°â½æ©M´î¤Ö¤H©M¬¡®a¸Vªº±µÄ²¡A¹ï¤U¦C°ÝÃD«o¤@¦r¤£´£¡G

¡¯¡@¬°¦ónÃö³¬Àã¦a¤½¶é©M¥»´ä¦U³¶³¾¤½¶é¡A¥H¤Î¦b¬Æ»ò±¡ªp¤§¤U¤~·|«·s¶}©ñ³o¨Ç¦a¤è¡H

¡¯¡@¦b¥«°Ï¤ºµo²{±aH5N1¦º³¾ªº¦aÂI¥u¬O®ø¬r¤F¨Æ¡A¦ý¬O«o¤´µMÅý¤H¶i¤J¡C

¡¯¡@¬°¦ó¤@¤è±¨ú®ø¥«°Ï¤º¤½¶éªº²M±áÆ[³¾¬¡°Ê¡A¥t¤@¤è±«o¤SÄ~Äò¶}©ñ³o¨Ç¤½¶é¡AÅý¼Æ¥H¤dpªº¤H¨C¤é¦b¸Ì±¨«°Ê¡C

¥@¬É¦ÛµM°òª÷·|¤w¥h«H¸Ó¨Æ°È©eû·|ªº¥D®u§õµØ©úÄ³û¡An¨D¥L¦b·|Ä³¤¤´£¥X¥H¤W°ÝÃD¡A¦pªG·|û·Q´£¥X·N¨£¡A½Ð¾¨§Ö¼g«Hµ¹§õÄ³û¡A³Ì¦n¬O¦b¬P´Á¤@±ß¤W¤§«e¡]®É¶¡«D±`¹G¤Á¡^¡A¥H«K¥Ñ¦U¦ì¿ï¥XªºÄ³û¥Nªí¦b¶}·|«e¤Î®É±o±x§Aªº¬Ýªk¡C

§õµØ©úªº¹q¶l¦a§}¬O info@liwahming.org.hk¡A½Ð¦P®É±N¹q¶l°Æ¥»§Û°eµ¹¥X®u ¸Ó¨Æ°È©eû·|ªº¥ßªk·|Âå¾Ç¬É¥Nªí³¢®aÄQÂå¥Í kkk@kkwok.org¡A¥H¤Î¥ßªk·|ªº¹q ¶l«H½c pi@legco.gov.hk¡A¥H½T«O¥LÌ¦¬¨ì§Aªº·N¨£¡C

³Ì«á¡A½Ð¦U¦ì±N¹q¶l¥H±K¥ó°Æ¥»¡]bcc¡^§Û°eµ¹¦ÛµM°òª÷·| maipo@wwf.org.hk ©M»´äÆ[³¾·|¡A¦nÅý§ÚÌª¾¹D¦³¦h¤Ö¤H´¿¸g¥h«H¡C

¦hÁÂ¦U¦ì¤ä«ù¡I¡I¡I

·¨¸ô¦~

W ¤¤Ä¶

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by World Cup 2006 on Mar 11^th, 2006, 12:12am

Hi, all. Now is the golden chance for us to give it a kick. >:(

I have sent my email just a minute ago. To save you time drafting something similar, I have copied the main body of my email below. Actions NOW!

Dear Hon. Fred Li,

I understand that there will be a meeting on next Tuesday to discuss the control of Avian Flu in HK. In this connection, I would like to request your assistance to urge the government to allow the re-opening of the Mai Po Reserve to Permit Holders immediately.

My request is shared by many members of the HK Bird Watching Society. May I take this opportunity to reproduce below some of the supporting reasons that I have collected from the organisation's website:-

Despite frequent checking of both the WWF Mai Po and KCRC Lok Ma Chau wetlands, no H5N1 cases have been found. There remains a very simple truth behind all the noise - that the birds testing positive for H5N1 are coming from the urban area, and are resident species.

The pattern of the present occurences of H5N1 in wild birds in HK does not point to migrant birds as the main vector - there is no evidence that migrant birds pose a health threat to humans in Hong Kong, there is no significant danger in visiting places where migrant birds are present such as Mai Po.

It is clear that only when birds are put into totally artificial - and literally sickening - levels of proximity to each other i.e. poultry factories and the cage bird trade do they transmit flu to each other so easily.

Closing Mai Po will no doubt adversely affect the general public's perception of wild birds and their role in carrying avian flu. Surely the perceived risk is minimal compared to visiting the wet markets in Hong Kong where people really do come into close proximity with birds, unlike at Mai Po.

Thus the closure of Mai Po is illogical. There has never been a case of H5N1 at Mai Po. There has never been a case of tranmission from a wild or migrant bird to a human. Why is the risk any greater than walking in Kowloon Park or a wet market?

The above are certainly not exhaustive but to give you some main view points. Mai Po Permit holders are dedicated lovers of nature and among them many professionals, academics, researchers in the study of birds. The closure of Mai Po will definitely do no benefit of understanding or controlling the cause of avian flu. In fact, ongoing studies and researches about migrant birds have to be suspended and HK is deprived of the precious opportunity to get hold of the problem with the lapse of at least one migration season.

Your assistance to rectify the situation and have Mai Po Reserve re-opened to Permit Holders immediately will be very much appreciated.

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by Bob Thompson on Mar 11^th, 2006, 6:48am

May I suggest that you delete the sentence "There has never been a case of H5N1 at Mai Po"

As you will remember there was the case of the Grey Heron at the KCRC spur line ponds

http://www.chp.gov.hk/content.asp?lang=en&info_id=1759

In my opinion this deletion will not weeken your letter but it will also prevent any comments from officials about this Grey Heron.

If you made this change you would have to insert "2005-6" in the sentence starting with "Despite frequent checking"

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by World Cup 2006 on Mar 12^th, 2006, 12:05am

Many thanks to Bob for correcting me. Being factually correct, I think it makes the appeal stronger. :)

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by gjcarey on Mar 12^th, 2006, 2:46pm

This is a copy of the bulk of my contribution:

"1. Birdwatching does not bring people into the close contact with wild birds that is needed to be at any risk of contracting Avian Influenza. The proximity to birds and their faeces is generally no greater than it is in the Country Parks, in public parks such as Kowloon Park and in wet markets. Indeed, I would contend strongly that contact with wild birds at sites such as Kowloon Park, where members of the public can feed and sit alongside wild birds and their faeces, and wet markets, where species such as the exotic House Crow forage and defecate, is actually much closer. It is, thus, completely illogical to close Mai Po when the locations such as the latter two remain open. It is not possible to catch Avian Influenza through binoculars!

2. Mai Po NR, while attracting large numbers of wild birds at certain times of the year, is little different from the adjacent fish pond areas of the northwest New Territories. In the latter, large numbers of egrets, herons and other birds forage, at times forming large and dense flocks, in exactly the same manner as occurs at Mai Po NR. Thus, it is completely illogical to close Mai Po NR while allowing public access to and work in the adjoining areas of fish ponds.

3. There is no scientific justification for the closure of Mai Po NR. There is no record of humans catching Avian Influenza from wild birds, and given the very close proximity or the contact with avian faeces or blood that is required, it is highly unlikely that the casual birdwatcher at Mai Po, or, indeed, any similar site, would be at any significant risk whatsoever.

4. As can be seen on the website of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Dept, the pattern of occurrence of H5N1 positive tests this winter is one that includes widespread urban areas but keeps well away from the wetland areas of the northwest New Territories. This is despite intensive blood and faecal testing by the University of HK of hundreds, if not thousands, of birds at both Lok Ma Chau and Mai Po NR. The intensity of survey effort here is far greater than in urban areas, yet it is only in the urban areas that H5N1 has been found. The irrationality of continued closure of Mai Po NR under these circumstances is further highlighted.

5. The species that have tested positive for H5N1 are largely urban species that are commensal with man. These are the very species that are least common at Mai Po NR. Thus, the closure of Mai Po while keeping open the wet markets and public parks where these species occur, makes no sense. To blame migratory birds when it is, so far this winter, only resident species that are testing positive for H5N1 is unreasonable."

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by World Cup 2006 on Mar 13^th, 2006, 1:27pm

Push Push :P :P

Actions now :) :)

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by macca on Mar 24^th, 2006, 1:50am

I have recently received a reply following my email to various organisations in Hong Kong concerning the closure of Mai Po due to Bird Flu and have included it below so others more familiar with Hong Kong than I may give comment before I reply with my counter argument.

Best wishes,

Ian

Ian McKerchar, UK

Dear Ian.

Thank you for your e-mail of 14 March 2006 addressed to Mrs. Stella Hung. I am replying your mail on her behalf.

We share your concern over the temporary closure of the Mai Po Nature Reserve (MPNR) which may cause inconvenience to visitors, bird watchers and interested parties. We would like to take this opportunity to explain the closure in greater detail.

MPNR being part of the Mai Po and Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site is an important roosting and refueling site for migratory birds. The Site regularly supports over 100,000 waterbirds for the whole year and some 50,000 waterbirds in mid-winter. You would appreciate that wild and migratory waterbirds are known to be victims and carriers of the avian influenza virus and may have helped spread of the recent avian influenza outbreaks in many countries.

The Government has been conducting surveillance of local wild birds which includes the collection of sick/injured or dead birds throughout the HKSAR as well as faecal samples of wild birds in the MPNR, for testing of H5 avian influenza virus. In view of the evolving situation overseas and the increase in the detection of avian influenza in local wild birds and backyard chicken in late January, it is a precautionary measure to temporarily close the MPNR to prevent visitors from contacting wild waterbirds and their faecal droppings.

Since 10 January 2006, there have been 16 (i.e. 14 wild birds and 2 chickens) tested H5N1 positive within the HKSAR. More recently, a human infection case was found in the nearby Guangdong province and the source of infection of which is still under investigation. These incidents demonstrate the threats to public health posed by avian influenza and the need for the community as a whole to be vigilant at all times.

Apart from the temporary closure of the MPNR, the Government has also taken practicable measures to minimize human contact with wild birds as far as possible such as stepped up surveillance on the pet bird market and collect samples of bird droppings from bird shops in Bird Garden to test for avian influenza virus. In addition, keeping of backyard poultry has been prohibited with effect from 13 February 2006. As a responsible and accountable Government, we must take all necessary precautionary measures to minimise the chance of an avian influenza outbreak and to protect public health.

The Government highly appreciates WWFHK¡¦s co-operation in closing the MPNR facilities temporarily in order to allay public concern about the threat of avian influenza. The Government is closely monitoring the situation and will discuss with WWFHK once it is appropriate to re-open the MPNR.

If you are interested to know more about avian influenza in HKSAR, please visit the Government¡¦s website on ¡§Prevention of Avian Influenza¡¨ at www.info.gov.hk/info/flu/eng/index.htm.

Regards,

Winnie KWOK
For Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation
Hong Kong SAR

ay give comment and counter argument before I reply.

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by Cran on Mar 24^th, 2006, 1:57pm

on 03/24/06 at 01:50:00, macca wrote:

The Government highly appreciates WWFHK¡¦s co-operation in closing the MPNR facilities temporarily in order to allay public concern about the threat of avian influenza. The Government is closely monitoring the situation and will discuss with WWFHK once it is appropriate to re-open the MPNR.

Hi, Ian. I live in HK and occassionally go birdwatching. Thanks for your emails to various parties concerning the closure of Mai Po. I found the above sentence very odd because closing Mai Po doesn't neccessarily mean the chance of human contact with birds carrying the virus is minmized. All of the 16 confirmed cases mentioned are resident birds (Magpie, Magpie Robin, crows, etc.) or chickens, mostly found in urban area. I really would like to know why migratory birds or birds found in Mai Po should be a bigger concern than those urban living ones.

There are also places like the bird market (sell bird as pets or for release during ceremony) and food markets (with live chickens) which are still in operation, with large number of birds or chickens kept in tiny cages, despite the fact that people would have extremely close contact with birds in these locations.

I think closing Mai Po is not going to help, but opening it and let people understand what activities should be of greater concern is what should be done.

These are just my personal opinion and I think other experts can give you more useful information.

Cran

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by miket on Mar 24^th, 2006, 9:58pm

on 03/24/06 at 01:50:00, macca wrote:

Since 10 January 2006, there have been 16 (i.e. 14 wild birds and 2 chickens) tested H5N1 positive within the HKSAR. More recently, a human infection case was found in the nearby Guangdong province and the source of infection of which is still under investigation. These incidents demonstrate the threats to public health posed by avian influenza and the need for the community as a whole to be vigilant at all times.

Apart from the temporary closure of the MPNR, the Government has also taken practicable measures to minimize human contact with wild birds as far as possible such as stepped up surveillance on the pet bird market and collect samples of bird droppings from bird shops in Bird Garden to test for avian influenza virus. In addition, keeping of backyard poultry has been prohibited with effect from 13 February 2006. As a responsible and accountable Government, we must take all necessary precautionary measures to minimise the chance of an avian influenza outbreak and to protect public health.

Dear Ian and others,

The silliness in the HK Govt.'s position is encapulated in these paragraphs in AFCD Director Winnie Kwok's reply to your letter; these incidents palpably do NOT demonstrate any risks in visiting Mai Po, since the birds infected could have been anywhere pretty much, but were actually all near markets in downtown Kowloon, and the Guangdong human infection case frequented poultry markets, I believe I'm right in saying - I'd bet my life he never got anywhere near a migratory bird!

Also there's such a massive mismatch between the way soft target Mai Po receives a direct hit, while the actual trade in wild birds, which would involve stopping for the time being some individuals' source of income in its tracks, continues.

She says they must take all necessary measures to protect the public - maybe, but the problem is because they are unable to do anything other than blindly panic they are also taking some unnecessary ones too. Being "vigilant' does not extend to measures likely simply to exacerbate concerns in an irrational manner.

Btw, this is an administration - not really a "government" in the accepted sense - which, perhaps inevitably given the crucially limited nature of democracy in HK, is still struggling to come to terms with what "accountability" even means.

Thank God for sensible legislators like Kwok Ka Kee, who are prepared to denounce this kind of nonsense.

Mike Turnbull

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by Cran on Mar 24^th, 2006, 11:32pm

I'm not sure where should I put this message, so here it goes:

Quoting from WWF(HK) website stating the facts, etc. and asking the public to write to the govt.:

http://www.wwf.org.hk/eng/maipo/updates/20060313.html

"Please help and write to the government for a clear timetable for the reopening of Mai Po
½ÐP¨ç¬F©² n¨D©w¥X¦Ì®H«¶}®É¶¡ªí

...please write to:

Mrs. Stella Hung (Director Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation)
e-mail: stella_hung@afcd.gov.hk

and copy the letter to

Dr. Sarah Liao Sau-tung, JP (Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works)
e-mail: etwbenq@etwb.gov.hk

Please also copy the letter to WWF (e-mail: maipo@wwf.org.hk) so that we can keep a record of how many people has written to the government."

Title: S China Morn post letter - Mai Po closureÃö³¬¦Ì®H¦
Post by martin on Mar 26^th, 2006, 4:22pm

Just had this letter published in Sunday Morning Post; maybe of interest:

Dear Sir:

It's now spring, and across east Asia there has been no evidence of H5N1 in migratory wild birds this winter. Here in Hong Kong, a few resident local birds died of H5N1, their infections were likely linked to poultry smuggling around Chinese New Year. Most were in Kowloon and on Hong Kong Island, also suggesting a connection to bird markets.

Despite speculation by virologists, there is no proof that wild birds can sustain and spread H5N1; instead, as we have again just seen in Hong Kong, it typically kills them. As a result of this, plus low amounts excreted by the few ducks that may survive, infections in wild birds quickly die out.

Though natural wild bird flus are fairly common in waterbirds, H5N1 is a product of poultry farms, and has never been found at Mai Po Marshes, despite close to 20,000 birds being tested there. The poultry industry is both the source of H5N1, and the key reservoir; poultry markets are among the key means of spreading the virus.

Thus, for anyone concerned about H5N1, Mai Po Marshes is one of the safest places in Hong Kong. And yet, the government has closed Mai Po - ostensibly to protect people, by reducing contact with wild birds, even though birdwatching involves observing rather than touching them.

There was no scientific basis for closing Mai Po, or aviaries (unless authorities are scared human visitors are accidentally carrying H5N1, such as on clothing), or the Wetland Park, or for halting birdwatching tours in city parks. There is no scientific basis for the reserve's continued closure. It is time to reopen Mai Po.

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by Cran on Mar 28^th, 2006, 1:27pm

Shall I said our govt. is a efficient one? I've sent a email to AFCD as suggested by WWF(HK) last night for a reopening timetable, and I got the reply this morning already, almost exactly the same reply as posted by Ian, except that there is now 17 cases, with the addition of the recent peregrine falcon! Because of this, I'm really not sure if they read the emails or not, maybe they do and they have hundreds to reply to and so everyone got the same reply.

If I knew the result, I'll only type a few sentances rather than hundreds of words then.

If anyone is planning to write, may I suggest you to try to 'attack' the faults in Ian's post specifically? So as to see if they really read your email.

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by johnallcock on Mar 28^th, 2006, 3:02pm

I also wrote to AFCD last week and got the same reply.

My original email raised mentioned more or less the same points raised by the 'standard' AFCD response, plus a couple of extra points (for example the hypocrisy of closing Mai Po while imports of chickens and caged birds have now resumed)

I later even tried replying to the AFCD response, but the email was bounced back by the AFCD server! In particular I tried to ask for further clarification of the phrase "The Government is closely monitoring the situation and will discuss with WWFHK once it is appropriate to re-open the MPNR" (there is no explanation of when this might be!)

I recommend that anyone who is concerned about the continued closure of Mai Po should follow WWF's advice and write to the government (see Cran's previous post for addresses) It would appear you don't need to write much, just a few lines so that they get the idea about the number of people who are getting frustrated by this ridiculous action.

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by Kimura on Mar 28^th, 2006, 9:08pm

It is just a standard reply letter edited by a wordprocessor. It takes less than a minute to send a reply. The govt is not doing anything else at the moment. They have enough justifications to stay their decisions, whether they are relevant or not. We are obviously the minority to be ignored. >:(

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by Little Dolphin on Mar 28^th, 2006, 11:20pm

on 03/28/06 at 15:02:33, johnallcock wrote:

I later even tried replying to the AFCD response, but the email was bounced back by the AFCD server!

Perhaps the AFCD e-mail has been overloaded by our e-mails. ;D Maybe we can try pen and paper letters. Perhaps they'll take written letters more seriously. ::)

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by martin on Mar 30^th, 2006, 5:26am

Is Birdw Soc trying media in HK, pushing to get out info re H5N1 and wild birds, instead of disinfo? Plenty of press releases going out?

(Just emailed Robert Webster, re my concerns over disinfo he feeds media re wild birds and H5N1)

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by johnallcock on Mar 30^th, 2006, 5:06pm

The latest on the government's website is that Mai Po will be closed for 21 days following the discovery of the dead peregrine:

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200603/29/P200603290260.htm

Assuming this means 21 days from the bird being found this means the reserve will hopefully reopen in mid-April (just before Easter...). Let's hope no more dead birds turn up in the meantime.

At least we now have some sort of timetable for when we might be allowed back!

Title: Re: Mai Po closure¡@Ãö³¬¦Ì®H¦ÛµM«OÅ@°Ï
Post by johnallcock on Apr 11^th, 2006, 2:43pm

Following the peregrine infected with H5N1 in Tin shui Wai, the government decided to extend the closure of Mai Po by 21 days.

By my calculations, it is now 21 days since the peregrine was picked up, during which time there have been no further cases of H5N1 in Hong Kong. This means the government should now be considering reopening the reserve.

I have just written to AFCD (at the address given earlier in this thread) to ask them to reopen the reserve - I suggest that others also now try to put some more pressure on the government to encourage them to end the reserve closure.