An official measures radiation levels of a fish imported from Japan as they conduct a radioactivity check, which have been conducted regularly since the 2011 Fukushima disaster, at Noryangjin fisheries wholesale market in Seoul, South Korea, July 6, 2023. REUTERS FILE PHOTO
HONG KONG 鈥� Hong Kong leader John Lee on Tuesday said the city will ban seafood products from a large number of Japanese prefectures if Tokyo goes ahead with a plan to discharge treated radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima plant into the ocean.
Hong Kong is Japan鈥檚 second-largest market for agricultural and fisheries exports. Mainland China is its biggest.
Japan鈥檚 plan, approved by U.N. nuclear watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has faced opposition at home and abroad over concerns for food safety. Tokyo says the releases will be safe and meet global standards.
Hong Kong鈥檚 current ban on shipments from one prefecture would 鈥渄efinitely鈥� be expanded, said Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, at a media briefing.
鈥淚f the exercise really starts, we鈥檒l be banning a large number of prefectures鈥� sea products.鈥�
China said last week it would tighten its scrutiny on food from Japan and maintain curbs on some Japanese imports. South Korea said a ban on food and seafood imports from the Fukushima region would remain in place.
Lee said he had asked Hong Kong鈥檚 secretary for the environment and ecology to form a multi-department team to design the city鈥檚 action plan. The government would take 鈥渄ecisive action鈥� and announce details of the plan to the public as soon as possible, Lee said.
鈥淭he catering industry will be affected, but I am sure that they will understand that we鈥檙e forced to make a decision because of this unprecedented exercise.鈥�
In 2022, Japan exported 75.5 billion yen ($536 million) in fishery products to Hong Kong, according to Japanese government statistics.
($1 = 140.8500 yen)
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