January 25, 2008

China assures stable grain and livestock supplies to Hong Kong, Macao

China's government assured on Thursday stable grain and livestock supplies to special administrative regions (SARs), Hong Kong and Macao.

Wang Xinpei, Ministry of Commerce spokesman, told Xinhua that the government had issued policy arrangements to ensure sufficient supply of grain to the Hong Kong and Macao, under Close Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), amidst export restrictions to other areas.

China's wheat supply to the two regions was generally the same as last year, averaging at 269 tonnes per day for Hong Kong and 13 tonnes per day for Macao.

Wang attributed the fluctuations of pig supply in Hong Kong to China's sharp pork price hikes, which also stemmed from feed increases in the country. 

The ministry stepped up moves to resolve the lack of supply to Hong Kong by adding more agencies to export live pigs and reforming the pig export quota system.

China had supplied more than 3,900 live pigs per day on average, meeting the basic demand in Hong Kong.

Furthermore, the ministry asked export agencies and companies to also ensure the live cattle supply to Hong Kong as demand was expected to increase in the upcoming Chinese New Year.