HONG KONG, Jun 6 (AP) -- Hong Kong will ease restrictions on imports of live chickens from mainland China to meet demand ahead of a holiday, the government said Monday, despite fears of a possible bird flu outbreak.

Hong Kong's daily quota of 30,000 chickens will be dropped from June 8-10, ahead of the Dragon Boat Festival this Saturday, the government said in a statement. Chinese families typically feast during holidays.

Hong Kong is worried about bird flu, which recently surfaced in western China, killing more than 1,000 birds in Qinghai province.

Bird flu last appeared Hong Kong in 1997, crossing over to humans and killing six people. Officials ordered the slaughter of all local chickens.