Secretary for Environment & Ecology Tse Chin-wan today met a Mainland delegation to discuss the supply and safety of food to Hong Kong.

Led by Ministry of Commerce Department of Foreign Trade Director Li Xingqian, the delegation was tasked to ensure the stable supply and safety of agricultural products to Hong Kong during the Chinese New Year.

Its members include representatives from the Ministry of Commerce, the General Administration of Customs and Guangdong Province’s Department of Commerce.

Mr Tse said the Mainland is the major source of agricultural products, especially live and fresh food, for Hong Kong.

He thanked the delegation for visiting the city before the Chinese New Year to look at the latest food supply situation from the Mainland to Hong Kong, so as to ensure people in Hong Kong have sufficient supply of high quality and diversified food.

Officials from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government held a meeting with the delegation this morning. Both sides noted that with the approach of the Chinese New Year, the Ministry of Commerce has required all relevant Mainland agencies to ensure the stable supply of quality and safe agricultural products to Hong Kong during the festive season with five measures: attaching importance on the stable supply of food; strengthening the sources of supply; enhancing the contingency plans; solidifying the safety defence and strengthening the sense of service.

Both sides agreed that their relevant departments should continue to maintain close contact and communication.

The delegation also visited Wan Chai Market to exchange views with stall representatives to learn about issues such as the volume and price level of food supplied from the Mainland to Hong Kong, while at the Western Wholesale Food Market, they were briefed on its operations.