January 5, 2005

Hong Kong Authorities Urge Seafood Vendors To Stop Imports From Tsunami-hit Areas

The Hong Kong government on Tuesday urged market vendors to temporarily stop importing seafood from South Asian countries hit by tsunamis because of contamination concerns.

Authorities feared that the fish may have eaten heavy metals and other pollutants stirred up by the seismic movements in the seabed, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department Assistant Director Thomas Chung said.

Chung said that the government will step up inspection of imported seafood to make sure it's safe to eat.

A magnitude-9.0 earthquake struck off Indonesia's coast on Dec. 26, causing tsunamis that flooded South Asia's coasts and Africa's east coast. The United Nations expects the death toll to surpass 150,000.

Hong Kong imports some fish from the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia, officials said.