HONG KONG, Feb. 4 (Xinhuanet) -- To step up monitoring of local chickens' deaths, the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department (AFCD) of Hong Kong government will collect chicken carcasses from all local chicken farms from Thursday.

    At a press conference, the AFCD also announced that chicken breeders will not be allowed to place dead chickens at a designated collection center for animal carcasses from this Friday. The department will consider canceling license of those who breach the new rules.

    Announcing the new arrangement this afternoon, Director of AFCD Thomas Chan said the new move will help the department have a better understanding of the number of dead chickens at local farms.

    Chan said his staff will closely examine the dead chickens. If abnormal deaths are detected, the department will collect samples for avian flu testing. Enditem