The Hong Kong government, responding to a bird flu death in Guangdong Province, has suspended imports of live poultry, day-old chicks and pet birds from the mainland for three weeks.

The region is on high alert, strengthening a series of measures against bird flu.

The suspension went into effect on Sunday when the mainland announced its ninth human fatality.

Meanwhile, three Hong Kong public health professionals from the government's Center for Health Protection went to Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong, yesterday to discuss prevention and control of bird flu with their Guangdong counterparts.

The latest victim was a 32-year-old man who had made several visits to an agricultural market near a live poultry slaughtering site. He was China's 15th human case.

Laboratory findings from the fatal case will be discussed with experts from Guangdong's Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Concerning suspension of poultry imports, Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food York Chow said the suspension allows the mainland authorities to conduct comprehensive investigations. He said mainland counterparts supported the extra precautionary measures.

"The live poultry and poultry products supplied by the mainland are all subject to stringent inspection and quarantine requirements. So far, no abnormalities have been identified. The temporary suspension is only a preventive measure," Chow said.

The supply of live poultry and birds from the mainland will be resumed if it is confirmed that there has been no additional human infection case and that there is no outbreak of avian influenza at live poultry farms in Guangdong, said the Hong Kong Health, Welfare and Food Bureau.

Before the suspension, Hong Kong was importing 30,000 live poultry every day from registered poultry farms in Guangdong Province.

The health department has implemented temperature screening for inbound travelers at all immigration control points. It has enhanced health education for travelers through leaflets and displays.

Private doctors have also been urged to report suspected avian flu cases. Swift tests by the government laboratory take only several hours; detailed results require two days.