Hong Kong plans to cease pig farming permanently under a 941.7-million-HK dollar (US$121 million) scheme so as to improve sanitary situation, said the territory's authorities on Tuesday.

The ex-gratia payment will be used to compensate pig farmers who choose to surrender their licenses voluntarily, said the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

The scheme is aimed to reduce the number of pig farms in Hong Kong, thereby reducing associated public health and environmental pollution problems.

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