Seafood ban goes down well with most

Toby Ng

Nearly 60 percent of people in a survey said they would eat less Japanese aquatic products while a majority backed the government's ban on imports of Japanese seafood from 10 prefectures.

Those findings came in a survey by Hong Kong Research Association of 1,064 people aged 18 or above, with 42 percent also backing the government's policy on night markets.

Hong Kong's ban - which came after Japan started discharging on August 24 diluted nuclear wastewater into the sea 12 years after a tsunami destroyed a power plant in Fukushima - generally chimes in with public concerns about the impact on the safety of Japanese fisheries.

The prohibition encompasses all forms of aquatic products from Tokyo, Fukushima, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Niigata, Nagano, and Saitama, including frozen, chilled, dried, or that which is stored in any other manner.

A spokesman for the Hong Kong Research Association urged the government to establish a long-term and effective monitoring mechanism to ensure the control of radiation risks in food, and called for regular reviews of mechanisms to ensure food safety and safeguard public health.

The findings on night markets came after recent advocacy for their development by Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po, who said the government needs to work together with industry to make Hong Kong's night markets vibrant and flourish in the short term.

A significant portion of the people surveyed have a certain interest in nightlife, with more than 40 percent of the respondents saying they would be interested in visiting night markets.

On their locations, nearly 40 percent said the government should revitalize existing night markets, such as Temple Street and Ladies Market, while another 29 percent said they should be developed in new locations.

The spokesman called for active exploration of different solutions with various sectors of society to stimulate Hong Kong's night-time economy.

This would promote diversified economic development while bringing about a positive impact on the social atmosphere, enhancing the image of Hong Kong as a vibrant and dynamic city.

Around 25 percent said the government should implement measures to cool down the property market, a new high for the survey. The result is likely influenced by recent signs of the property market weakness.

The slow economic recovery has led to volatility in Hong Kong's property market.

Freddie Wong Kin-yip, the executive director of Midland Holdings, said the property market's performance in the first half was worse than expected.

The annual increase in property prices has been predicted to be insignificant, making a reduction in stamp duties a matter of urgency.