'New import route may lower fresh food costs for HK'
Import restrictions at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge will be eased starting July, the government said on Monday, in a move that a lawmaker said could shave hours off current transport routes and potentially give local consumers access to more fresh produce at cheaper prices. The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) said a variety of foods – including frozen and chilled meat, along with fresh eggs, vegetables, and fruits – will be allowed to be imported to Hong Kong via the mega-bridge starting July 1. Currently, such products are required to be brought in via the Man Kam To Boundary Control Point in the northeast New Territories, while food imports using the bridge was limited only to fresh seafood, along with frozen and chilled poultry. A spokesman said importers will be allowed to bring in the new categories of food products using the bridge from 9pm to 5am starting in July, and the goods will be inspected by CFS staff. It said the change was brought about following discussions with mainland authorities and trade representatives. Agriculture and Fisheries sector lawmaker Steven Ho welcomed the announcement, saying the new land route means importers can now consider bringing in products from more mainland suppliers located far from the Man Kam To checkpoint. He thinks the new policy will save importers time and money, as they would no longer have to make a detour to reach suppliers located further west. "Suppose [the suppliers are located] west of Zhuhai, or Guangxi, it takes a long time to get to the eastern side of Hong Kong," Ho told RTHK. "But when the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge becomes a channel for importing [more] fresh food, from what I've heard from the sector representatives last time we consulted them, they said they could save four to six hours, which would save fuel cost and the cost of hiring drivers." Ho also noted that the cost savings from importing food produce could potentially be passed on to consumers, resulting in lower prices for Hong Kong shoppers.