The Hong Kong Housing Department said Saturday public rental housing tenants who keep any animal or bird in their flats without consent are breaching their tenancy agreements and will be liable to a deduction of five penalty points.

Assistant Director of the Housing Department Lai Ip-cheung said the points will be allotted on top of a penalty fine of up to 100, 000 HK dollars (12,903 US dollars) after the law banning backyard poultry-keeping takes effect from Feb. 13.

The department will consider terminating tenancies if appropriate.

To guard against avian influenza, Lai said, the Housing Department will strengthen action to preserve environmental hygiene and cleanliness in markets and intensify cleaning of estates.

Estate staff have been deployed to frighten away feral birds. Any bird or poultry carcass found will be sent to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.

Source: Xinhua