The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is co-ordinating with Mainland authorities to ensure a stable daily goods supply from the Mainland to Hong Kong, the Transport & Housing Bureau announced today.

It explained that the Hong Kong SAR Government's Task Force of Supplies from the Mainland has been working closely with the Guangdong and Shenzhen governments to explore various means to stabilise the supply of goods to Hong Kong, including vegetables, fruits and other daily food and necessities.

The Sea Express water transportation service from the Mainland to Hong Kong has been launched with the facilitation and co-ordination of Mainland authorities and the Hong Kong SAR Government as well as the active participation by the trade.

Currently, there are at least three daily feeder services supporting waterway cargo supplies, including from Shenzhen Yantian International Container Terminals to Hong Kong Kwai Tsing Container Terminals, from Shenzhen DaChan Bay Terminals to Kwai Tsing Container Terminals, and from Shenzhen Mawan Container Terminal to Hong Kong River Trade Terminal.

The bureau also pointed out that Mainland authorities have set up specific green channels for ships and trailers, giving priority to safeguarding the green channels for cross-boundary shipping operations between Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

Dedicated berths, supporting equipment and yard facilities, have been assigned for ensuring that ships carrying cross-boundary goods have priority for berthing operations.

More routes are expected to be launched shortly with a view to supplying more types of goods from Guangdong and Shenzhen to Hong Kong.

Additionally, the Hong Kong SAR Government and Mainland authorities have agreed on a series of measures to ensure the smooth operation of the arrangements, including the redeployment of capacities by ship operating companies, devoting anti-epidemic efforts for sea crews and ensuring the separation of both shipboard and terminal operations.

The Centre for Food Safety has also set up an inspection point in its existing Food Control Office at Kwai Chung Customhouse to expedite the entry of fresh food into the market.

According to information from Mainland authorities, the three terminals of Yantian, DaChan Bay and Mawan port transported over 300 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units), around 2,000 tonnes, of supplies to Hong Kong yesterday, among which more than 30 TEUs, over 300 tonnes, contained fresh food and more than 280 TEUs, about 1,700 tonnes, contained non-fresh food.

Since the launch of the services, a total of about 1,200 TEUs, with over 7,500 tonnes of cargo, have been shipped to Hong Kong from the three terminals, among which about 100 TEUs, about 900 tonnes, have been fresh food and about 1,100 TEUs, over 6,600 tonnes, contained non-fresh food.

In addition to water transport, the Hong Kong SAR Government is working with Shenzhen to study in depth the feasibility of transporting goods by railways.

The bureau, together with the trade, the Mass Transit Railway Corporation and relevant government departments, conducted a site visit at Lo Wu today and will discuss arranging with the Mainland trial operations as soon as possible.

The Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse was closed today for comprehensive disinfection after its staff contracted COVID-19 and had to undergo nucleic acid tests, affecting the supply of local fresh meat.

The Hong Kong SAR Government is discussing plans with the Mainland to deploy professional and experienced personnel to Hong Kong to assist with the resumption of local fresh meat supply at the soonest opportunity possible, with a view to safeguarding the fresh food supply to Hong Kong people.

It has also requested the meat provider and agents, depending on the actual demand, to increase the import of chilled meat to ensure the supply.

The Hong Kong SAR Government thanked the central government, along with the Guangdong and Shenzhen governments for their support all along.

It emphasised that it will closely monitor the situation, and continue to facilitate and implement various measures with Mainland authorities to ensure a stable goods supply to Hong Kong as well as optimise the operation of cross-boundary transportation of supplies.