NEWSFLASH

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RP TO SUPPLY CHICKEN TO HK

Manila, Jan. 6, 1998 - Like hitting two birds with one stone, local chicken producers hounded by a over-production can solve their glut and help out a neighbor by supplying chicken to Hong Kong.

This was proposed by Trade and Industry Secretary Cesar Bautista, who said yesterday that he will meet with Filipino poultry raisers to see if they can seedily expand production to supply up to 100,000 heads of chicken daily .

Bautista said the Hong Kong market for chicken is worth at least $100 million. More than a million chicken were gassed and disposed of by Hong Kong authorities to prevent the spread of Bird Flu, an infectious disease that was traced to live chicken.

Hong Kong's restaurants are not serving chicken temporarily. Bautista said the Philippines is a logical supplier for Hong Kong's chicken requirements because "the local industry maintains high health standards and we are so close to Hong Kong that shipping time is short."

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