Hong Kong "Partial Suspension of Some Japanese Seafood Imports if Japan Releases Contaminated Water"

Indication of Tough Measures Including Quarantine Strengthening
"Irresponsible Discharge Despite International Community Concerns"

The Hong Kong government announced that it will immediately suspend imports of some Japanese seafood once the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant begins.

On the 8th, Tsang Chit-wan, Hong Kong's Secretary for the Environment, wrote in a pro-China media outlet, Ta Kung Pao, that radioactive substances exceeding the standard levels were recently detected in fish caught near the Fukushima nuclear power plant, pointing out that the discharge of contaminated water poses a serious risk to food safety. He stated that strict measures will be taken, including banning imports of seafood caught in Fukushima and nearby areas, and quarantine of Japanese food products will be further strengthened.

Secretary Tsang criticized Japan for irresponsibly pushing forward with the discharge despite international concerns. He wrote, "If the Japanese government is confident about the safety of the contaminated water, it should find ways to use it locally, such as for irrigation, instead of discharging it into international waters and causing severe food safety risks." Hong Kong officials reportedly urged Japanese authorities not to discharge the contaminated water until international consensus is reached.

Earlier, Japanese media reported that Tokyo Electric Power Company detected 18,000 becquerels of cesium in rockfish caught inside the harbor of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in May. This is 180 times the Japanese Food Sanitation Law standard of 100 becquerels (Bq) per kilogram.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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