Hong Kong has warned of tougher action to restrict Japanese seafood imports if nuclear contamination in Japan worsens, a year after the city banned aquatic products from 10 prefectures of the country. But a catering representative dismissed the need for further restrictions on Japanese seafood which had already dealt a blow to local restaurants, arguing the current controls were strict enough to ensure safety. The bureau said it was necessary to take precautionary measures to ensure food safety in the wake of more incidents happening at the nuclear power plant.
“Over the past year or so, seven accidents at the Fukushima nuclear power plant have been reported by the media alone. The employees needed to be hospitalised due to accidents, and the surrounding environment was polluted,” it said in a Facebook post. “The most recent accident was just two weeks ago, an average of one in about two months, and the frequency is shocking.
“Given such a level of management and surveillance at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, and the serious consequences that could arise, it is scientifically justified for Hong Kong to take precautionary measures.” The bureau said the government would continue to closely monitor the development of nuclear effluent discharge, including scientific data from Japan and the International Atomic Energy Agency. It also said it would examine the impact of the nuclear effluent discharge on food safety, and review the relevant measures from time .