Acting Chief Executive Chan Kwok-ki today met United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director-General Qu Dongyu.

Welcoming Mr Qu’s visit to Hong Kong with his delegation, Mr Chan noted that the FAO has 194 Member Nations launching work worldwide, leading international efforts to eradicate hunger.

He said the organisation plays a pivotal role in global food security, promoting the development of distinctive agricultural products in various countries and regions, advancing the development of fisheries and aquaculture, and preventing and controlling major animal diseases, adding that its achievements are widely recognised.

Mr Chan pointed out that Hong Kong is promoting the upgrading and transformation of the overall agriculture and fisheries industry towards modernisation and sustainable development. The Blueprint for the Sustainable Development of Agriculture & Fisheries formulated in Hong Kong earlier has also set out specific work targets in this regard.

In addition, Hong Kong has consistently engaged in various collaborations with the FAO. For example, the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department earlier participated in the drafting of a series of FAO guidelines on African Swine Fever (ASF) to assist smallholder pig farmers in the Asian region to respond to ASF, and the relevant guidelines have now been widely adopted by Asian countries and regions.

Mr Chan added that he looks forward to greater co-operation between Hong Kong and the FAO to strengthen knowledge exchange, promote regional co-operation, and make further contributions to global food security and sustainable development.