Preliminary tests on two dead birds collected in Kowloon have indicated suspected cases of H5 avian influenza, the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department says. More tests are being conducted.

One of the birds was a White-eye collected on Convair Drive, San Po Kong on January 15. The other was a  House Crow collected from Lai On Estate, Sham Shui Po on January 16.

The White-eye is a common resident bird in Hong Kong but the House Crow is an exotic species.

The department has been monitoring the population of House Crows and will continue to implement measures to reduce their number.

In 2006, a total of 150 eggs and chicks of House Crows were removed and about 90 individuals were collected by anaesthetic baiting. With the implementation of these measures, the local House Crow population has stablised at about 250.

The department has stepped up cleaning at the Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Wholesale Poultry Market. Letters have been sent to remind poultry farmers to maintain precautions against avian influenza.