Mai Po - News Archive

Please help and write to the government for a clear timetable for the reopening of Mai Po

Whilst nobody would wish for an outbreak of avian flu in Hong Kong, the government needs to take action against any possible outbreak based on scientific fact rather than on political pressure.

On 2 February 2006, the Hong Kong Government closed the Mai Po Nature Reserve as “…a precautionary measure…” against the spread of the bird flu due to wild birds being found dead with the H5N1 virus in other parts of Hong Kong away from the Reserve.

Until now, the Government has not given any scientific reasons why the Reserve should be shut nor have they given any timetable for when the Reserve will be reopened. This is in view of the fact that:

• The present (Dr. KK Kwok) , and previous (Dr. WL Lo) elected representative for the medical sector within Government, have openly said that the closure of Mai Po was due to political reasons rather than scientific reason,
• Mai Po Nature Reserve. Surveillance studies by the Microbiology Department, Hong Kong University since 2003, has shown that the samples from wild waterbirds have all tested negative for the H5N1 virus so far. Furthermore, no dead birds have been found at Mai Po with the H5N1 virus.
• This winter, 15 dead birds infected with the H5N1 virus has been found mainly in the urban areas. None of the affected urban areas were closed off but the sites were only sterilized and life allowed to continue.
• The Wetland Park at Tin Shui Wai. Whilst this $500 million facility has yet to be formally opened, one educational activity planned in early February had to be cancelled because of bird flu fears. If bird flu is to return each winter, will this education and tourism attraction also have to be closed when the period for visitors is likely to be at its peak?
• Aviaries in urban parks. Whilst early morning birdwatching classes have been cancelled in the major urban parks because of the fear of bird flu, thousands of visitors are still allowed through.

Recently, the World Health Organization has said that the main risk of contracting bird flu is to people who are in close contact with infected poultry, such as families with backyard flocks and poultry workers in wet markets or live animal markets. Even then, the H5N1 virus does not spread easily from poultry to humans since very few cases have been detected in poultry workers or vets. The recent case of a Guangzhou man dying from bird flu after having stayed for long periods in the city’s poultry markets, further proves the point that the risk is from infected poultry rather than from wild birds.

If you support WWF in that the government should have a timetable based on clear science, for the reopening of Mai Po and the other educational facilities that have been closed, then please write to:

and copy the letter to

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.

Thank you very much in advance for all your support.