Hong Kong and Guangdong are striving to resume the supply of Mainland freshwater fish to Hong Kong before the Winter Solstice, the Health, Welfare & Food Bureau says. The supply of live marine fish to Hong Kong will resume two to three days after Guangdong finishes its inspections.

Deputy Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Cheuk Wing-hing, Director of Food & Environmental Hygiene Eddy Chan and Food Safety Centre Controller Dr Mak Sin-ping met with officials from Guangdong Entry-Exit Inspection & Quarantine Bureau in Guangzhou today. Both sides were very concerned about the suspension of supply of freshwater fish and marine fish to Hong Kong and looked forward to restoring normal trading as soon as possible.

At the meeting, they exchanged views on the trade's concern over products for export to Hong Kong. Both sides agreed to enhance communication with their trade representatives. Guangdong authorities will help convey the situation in Hong Kong to Mainland traders so as to remove their anxiety.

As for marine fish, both Guangdong and Shenzhen Entry-Exit Inspection & Quarantine Bureaux have confirmed that no ban has been imposed. Instead, the authorities have bolstered their inspections.

The bureau stressed both sides would make every effort to combat fish products coming to Hong Kong from improper channels to ensure public health, and that the Hong Kong public could enjoy seafood safely.