Hong Kong and Shenzhen health officials will enhance the notification mechanism and closely liaise on major incidents involving plant quarantine.

Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr York Chow today met Shenzhen Entry-Exit Inspection & Quarantine Bureau Director General Liu Shengli in Shenzhen to forge closer ties.

The two sides reviewed and exchanged views on safeguarding Hong Kong's food safety and preventing the spread of cross-boundary infectious disease.

They will maintain active liaison and information exchange on plant pest outbreaks, interception of plant pests at checkpoints, and plant inspections and quarantine controls.

Busy boundary

Dr Chow said Hong Kong and Shenzhen's checkpoints are among the busiest in the world with over 100 million visitor movements since 2001.

"With closer economic ties between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, the number of business, tourism and social visits are on the increase. The surge in visitor and flow of cargo, poultry, birds and plants has greatly increased the risk of infectious diseases spreading," he said.

Dr Chow applauded the bureau's efforts in safeguarding safety.