December 6, 2007

Boycott threatens supplies of fresh pork in Hong Kong

Fresh pork is expected to be absent from most small butchers in Hong Kong as buyers stage another boycott today.

About 100 live pig consumers protested against mainland-owned Ng Fung Hong, the main supplier to Hong Kong, for switching from the usual allocation system to auction, pushing prices from US$154 to US$255 per 100 catties at one point. One catty equals 605 grammes.

Many buyers have been left empty-handed with soaring prices and limited supply, which is down to about 60 percent of the city's daily consumption of between 4,000 and 5,000 pigs.

Hong Kong traders described such short supply as rare for this time of the year, leading to speculation that a supplier is hoarding stock to push up prices.

Mok Yiu-nam, who managed to get 70 pigs for his stores in Yuen Long at US$192 per 100 catties yesterday said the atmosphere at the auction was very tense as prices were pushed so high that small buyers could not afford them.