The Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department Director will explain during a meeting with the seafood wholesalers on Aberdeen Promenade next Monday how their stall rental has been assessed.

The department will also reiterate the existing policy of putting the seafood stalls up for open tender after five years.

A working group that includes Food & Environmental Hygiene Department staff will study how to monitor the seafood stalls' fishtank water. Results are due out in the near future.

In interviews with Commercial Radio and Metro Radio, Thomas Chan said the proposed $200 per square metre is the average rental of all stalls selling live seafood under the Fish Marketing Organisation.

This is really "very reasonable", he stressed, adding that each stall on the Promenade has an average annual turnover of  $16 million.

Public resources can't be used to subsidise commercial ventures

"Land being a public resource should not be used to wholly subsidise commercial activities. There is very little room for further negotiation on rental cuts," he said.

The organisation will monitor the operation and hygienic conditions of the seafood stalls round the clock. The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department will also regularly inspect the fish tanks.

Any stall owner found violating regulations, including using water from the typhoon shelter to keep seafood, will be liable to the maximum penalty - having his lease and licence suspended.