HK planning wide sea products ban over Fukushima: CE
Chief Executive John Lee says the government will ban aquatic products from "a large number of prefectures" of Japan if Tokyo goes ahead with a plan to release wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant that was crippled by a tsunami in 2011. Speaking to reporters before the weekly Executive Council meeting, Lee said he takes food safety and public health concerns seriously, adding that the action Japan is planning would be unprecedented and could lead to unknown risks. The chief executive said he has instructed Environment and Ecology Secretary Tse Chin-wan to work out plans with various government departments, under the supervision of Chief Secretary Eric Chan, for a response to a discharge of wastewater. Lee said he believes that Hong Kong's catering industry would understand the reason behind any restrictions imposed. "I'm sure they will know food safety is important, and they will know public confidence in food safety is so important that it will affect the whole catering sector if we don't handle it in a way that the citizens will feel safe." The chief executive added that Tse would make an announcement as soon as possible once an action plan has been formulated.