Government Unlikely to Relax Seafood Ban on 10 Japanese Prefectures, Citing Radiation Concerns
The Hong Kong government is unlikely to relax the seafood ban on 10 Japanese prefectures in the near future due to ongoing concerns about radiation. The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Tse Chin-wan, has stated that the government needs to monitor the situation closely, particularly in light of Japan’s recent release of nuclear wastewater from the damaged Fukushima power plant into the Pacific Ocean.
Tse highlighted the importance of continued monitoring, emphasizing that the government will release more detailed radiation data on Japanese food products every one to two months. This data will allow the public to be informed about the safety of the tested products. However, Tse cautioned that although no problems were found in the initial discharge, there is no guarantee of safety over the next 30 years.
Following the wastewater release, a ban was imposed on August 24 that covers the import and supply of all fresh, frozen, dried, or processed seafood, as well as sea salt and seaweed, from Fukushima, Tokyo, Chiba, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Gunma, Miyagi, Niigata, Nagano, and Saitama prefectures.
Tse emphasized that it is not currently the right time to discuss lifting the ban, stressing the absence of a timetable for its relaxation. The government will need to gather more statistics and may even impose stricter restrictions if aquatic products from other prefectures are found to have radiation levels that exceed Hong Kong’s safety standards.
Tse further clarified that there is no need for food labeling at present, as all Japanese food sold in Hong Kong has already been proven to be safe. He stated that he personally will not stop consuming Japanese food, as the Hong Kong government places great emphasis on ensuring food safety.
In a separate matter, Tse discussed the long-awaited waste-charging scheme, which is set to come into force on April 1. There will be a six-month preparation period, which could be extended based on the population’s adaptation to the scheme. Tse mentioned plans to work with community care teams to promote the scheme to the elderly and residents of buildings that lack owners’ corporations, residents’ organizations, or property management companies.
Additionally, Tse highlighted the increase in electric vehicles (EVs) in Hong Kong, with over 60% of newly registered private cars falling into this category. He expects there to be over 200,000 EV-charging facilities within the next three years. The government has started implementing charges for charging services at government car parks, which were previously free.
Tse concluded by leaving it to the public to assess his performance thus far in his role as Secretary for Environment and Ecology.
Overall, the government’s decision to maintain the seafood ban on 10 Japanese prefectures reflects its commitment to ensuring the safety of imported food products. By providing regular radiation data on tested products, the government aims to keep the public informed and maintain transparency regarding food safety.
