Chicken, squab sales in HK hit hard by bird flu  

受H7N9疫情影响 香港冰鲜鸡跌4成酒楼不卖乳鸽

据香港《大公报》报道，H7N9在活禽之间传播，虽然香港暂时未发现有感染H7N9的活禽，但市民对鸡有戒心，不吃活鸡之余，更“祸及”冰鲜鸡。有专营冰鲜禽畜的业界表示，踏入4月冰鲜鸡生意急跌40%，每只零售价下调3元(港元，下同)至4元，要维持皮费开支，无奈只得让伙记停薪留职。

(CNS) –The H7N9 epidemic has affected both live chicken and frozen chicken sales in Hong Kong amid worries about the bird flu virus.

This fear has brought down the demand of chicken by 30 to 40 percent, and even by nearly half in some retail outlets, according to Hong Kong-based Takungpao.

Refrigerated chicken meat sales nosedived 40 percent in April, with prices down 3 to 4 HK dollars per chicken.

Many restaurants have stopped paying workers, instead giving them time off, to save on costs.

To ease customers' fears, some restaurants have suspended serving squab meat and removed poultry items from their menus.

In addition, more emphasis has been put on hygiene. Employees were asked to wash their hands for 30 seconds, use plastic gloves and wear masks when chopping up chickens or ducks.

However, thanks to the consumption of non-poultry meat, which saw an increase of over 30 percent, their overall business remains basically intact.

Despite price falls, Hong Kong residents are still trying to stay away from chicken meat.

Special report: H7N9 avian influenza