EMPTY HOOKS HANG AT A PORK STALL IN SINGAPORE, 1999-03-27 (photo)

Hooks normally used to hang pork meat are empty at a pork stall in central Singapore March 27. The government announced March 26 that pork sellers located in government-subsidized estates will have their rents waived for one month to help stall owners affected by the ban of the import of live pigs from Malaysia and Indonesia. Singapore has stopped the importation of live pigs after more than 60 people died of a viral infection in Malaysia that has been linked to pigs. The government also annouced that in the long term, Singapore will have to start considering selling chilled meat instead of meat that is not refrigerated after slaughter. ST/JIR/CLH/