December 13, 2006

 

Hong Kong resumes seafood imports from China

 

 

Hong Kong has resumed importing seafood from the mainland (Dec 14) after a three-day suspension, the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau announced.

 

The bureau said the local authority had been informed by the Guangdong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau that supplies will resume.

 

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department gave out assurances it would make every effort to stop fish products entering through improper channels.

 

The Customs and Excise Department have also stepped up inspections and early Tuesday intercepted a mainland fishing boat loaded with fish and crabs.

 

Deputy Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food Cheuk Wing-hing told the food safety panel Tuesday the government plans to draft laws regulating fish imports by July.

 

The halting of seafood supplies Sunday came two weeks after mainland traders stopped the supply of freshwater fish following the interception of a boatload of fish from a registered fish farm in Guangdong.

 

The halt in fish supplies had caused fears among restaurants preparing for the Christmas and new year crowds.

 

Summer and Christmas are usually the peak periods for seafood demand.

 

Some restaurants were forced to switch suppliers as the Mainland suppliers have run out of stock, causing prices to escalate due to higher transport costs.

 

Other industry insiders say Hong Kong's seafood suspension could give rise to a black market with even more fish from doubtful sources.

 

Other restaurants said that with the fish scare stories last month, many consumers have switched their preference to fish from other countries.