July 13, 2007
Hong Kong considers expanding live pig import options
Hong Kong is considering adding another live pig importer to break the monopoly its sole importer has currently and may consider live pig imports from other countries to expand its sources of fresh pork.
Its efforts has been coordinated by Chinese authorities, who have set up a special committee to study the supply of live pigs to Hong Kong and to guarantee a stable supply.
According to Wang Xinpei, a spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce, various options for opening up the live pigs market for Hong Kong are being considered.
The territory currently only has one licensed live pig importer - Ng Fung Hong. Pig supplies to Hong Kong are slowly returning to normal levels after a steep drop recently, leading traders and legislators to consider expanding their source of fresh pork, which traditionally came from Guangdong.
Hong Kong Pork Traders General Association vice chairman Hui Wai-kin welcomed the mainland's move.
Hui said Guangnan, another major mainland-backed company operating in Hong Kong, would likely be Hong Kong's second fresh pork importer.
At present, Guangnan and Ng Fung Hong are the only two agents appointed by the ministry to supply live pigs from the mainland. Guangnan accounts for less than 20 percent of the local supply of live pigs from Guangdong province.
Ng Fung Hong, accounts for 80 percent of the supply market and imports pork from all over China.
Guangnan does not have an import license and imports and sells its live pigs through Ng Fung Hong.
Hui urged the government to consider licensing live pig importers from other countries, such as from Southeast Asia. This has come in the aftermath of news reports from neighbouring city Shenzhen that as many as two hundred disease pigs a day are slaughtered and sent to market.
Although a lawmaker has said Hong Kong needs to introduce two to three fresh pork suppliers for consumers to choose from, there is no need to open up the market completely.
