Hong Kong is expected to resume poultry imports from neighboring Guangdong next week after a careful evaluation of the development of avian influenza in the area, the health department of Hong Kong SAR said Monday.

Carrie Yau, secretary for health, welfare and food, paying a visit to the province's entry-exit inspection and quarantine bureau over the weekend, said the department had decided to resume the import of live poultry from Guangdong. Yau said there has been no outbreak of avian influenza in Guangdong, and no new human case has been reported either.

Hong Kong stopped importing live poultry from Guangdong where a human case of bird flu was reported in late February.

"We plan to set March 26 as our target date for the resumption of live poultry imports from Guangdong to Hong Kong and on March 27 to resume the sale of live imported poultry in Hong Kong's wet markets," said Yau after holding discussions with her Guangdong counterparts during her visit.

The quota for live poultry imports from Guangdong would be set at 20,000 chickens per day, one third less than before. The two sides agreed to review the arrangement in mid-April.

Editor: Yan