The Hong Kong Food and Environmental Hygiene Department found a fresh provision shop violate Rest Day conditions and confiscated 41 live poultry on Monday.

The department acted on a complaint and found the shop keeping live poultry on the Rest Day.

"As the keeping of live poultry by the concerned shop is a breach of Rest Day conditions, the department will consider canceling its fresh provision shop license," a spokesman for the department said.

In the action, 41 live poultry, including chickens and pigeons, were surrendered by the shop for disposal.

According to the licensing conditions and tenancy of live poultry outlets, no live poultry shall be kept or stored at the premises on a Rest Day. Fresh provision shops and stalls must also suspend business to carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection on that day.

The spokesman stressed that failure to comply with Rest Day conditions could lead to immediate cancellation of fresh provision shop licenses or termination of market stall tenancies.

(Xinhua News Agency April 11, 2006)