The attempt to play down the threat followed his warning Thursday that if the bird flu virus on the mainland mutated into a human-to-human strain, the government would close the border to prevent it from spreading to Hong Kong.

However, analysts pointed out that shutting down the border would deal a big blow to businesses and the local economy because of the close ties Hong Kong has with Guangdong.

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Hong Kong companies employ roughly 11 million people in the Pearl River Delta.

However, speaking at a health meeting in southeastern Yunnan province, Vice Minister for Health Huang Jiefu stressed that human life is more important than economic concerns.

"The life and property of every Chinese citizen should be made the first priority. If necessary, we have to sacrifice a bit on the economic [front] and accept some inconvenience," he said.

In clarifying his earlier statement about closing the border, Chow said Friday: "In the worse-case scenario, wherever it [the human-to-human transmission] happens, there is a need for tougher control at the border or to even close it."

However, he stressed the decision must be based on scientific data.

"According to the SARS experience, we have to look at the severity of the outbreak, the way it is spreading and the mortality rate before we make a decision to close the border," Chow said.

Details of the criteria necessary for such action are expected to be forwarded to the Legislative Council next month.

Leading Hong Kong microbiologist Lo Wing-lok said the closure of the border will be difficult as it carries serious economic consequences.

In a special report in April entitled "One flu over the chicken's nest" by CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets, Hong Kong was described as one of the economies most vulnerable to a pandemic in Asia based on measures such as healthcare expenditure, tourist arrivals, total trade and gross domestic product.

"Hong Kong and Singapore are economies which are highly dependent on international trade and are likely to be severely affected in the event of a global pandemic" CLSA researchers said.

The World Health Organization Thursday said about 91,000 birds were destroyed around farms in northern China to stop the spread of bird flu.

The birds were culled after 2,600 chickens and ducks were killed by the virulent H5N1 virus in a breeding facility in Tengjiaying, near Hohhot, the capital of the Inner Mongolia region, the central government said.

Mainland, Hong Kong and Macau health officials Friday signed an agreement to coordinate responses to outbreaks of infectious diseases such as bird flu and SARS.

Under the new agreement, the governments must immediately inform each other when a major health emergency occurs. A joint-response team has also been formed to handle any crisis.

"With rapid globalization, public health incidents such as outbreak of infectious disease could spread widely and affect many places. Whether the three places can effectively handle such public health crises will very much hinge on close collaboration," Chow said.