Hong Kong is ready to accept chilled pork from selected Mainland plants, the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department says, adding it is studying the proposal to ban the sale of fresh and chilled meat in the same premises.

In a Legislative Council paper today, the department said there have been suggestions that the sale of fresh and chilled meat, including pork, beef and mutton, should require two separate licences.

The proposal requires amendments to the Public Health & Municipal Services Ordinance, the department said, adding it will liaise with the Department of Justice.

Under the proposed arrangement, there will be an adverse impact on traders who are now endorsed to sell both fresh and chilled meat.