I can sell 100 chickens in an hour, but today, I only sold 10 chickens

Chicken vendor

Ms Yam stressed that birds would only be killed if they were infected - almost 170,000 chickens have already been slaughtered - and for now the 24 farms were just being prevented from supplying chickens to retailers.

Six people died in 1997 when they contracted bird flu, but health officials have assured Hong Kong residents that the current virus does not affect humans.

Scientists have been carrying out tests to identify the strain of the flu. Results are expected within a week.

Long term plan

Health officials have stepped up inspection of poultry markets, and the government has decided to order markets closed for two days every month for cleaning.

170,000 birds have already been killed

But faced with the third outbreak of bird flu in five years, the chief executive Tung Chee-hwa has called for a "long-term solution."

Most Hong Kong markets are still selling chickens, but sales have plummeted.

"I love chicken and have it all the time and especially during the Chinese New Year, but under the present circumstances, I will avoid it for now," said housewife Hilda Liang.

New Year favourite

Chicken is an popular food in Hong Kong - residents consume an average of average of 100,000 birds a day. Wholesalers say that figure goes up by about 30% in the run up to Lunar New Year.

But next week's celebrations are expected to see a drop in consumption.

"I can sell 100 chickens in an hour, but today, I only sold 10 chickens," one market trader told reporters.

Last May, an outbreak of avian flu led to the slaughter of Hong Kong's entire poultry population - 1.37 million birds including geese, ducks and quail.

Tests revealed the strain was non-fatal to humans, but the authorities were not taking any chances for fear of an epidemic.