Press Releases

A Government spokesman announced today (March 13) that the supply of fresh food from the Mainland yesterday (March 12) was stable. Members of the public need not over-purchase supplies.

According to the latest information, the quantity of vegetables supplied from the Mainland to Hong Kong yesterday (as of midnight) by land and water transportation was about 2 000 tonnes, about 85 per cent of the average daily supply from the Mainland on a normal day. The volume of vegetables supplied from the Mainland to Hong Kong sold through the wholesale markets of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and the Vegetable Marketing Organization yesterday was about 765 tonnes. The average wholesale prices per catty for choi sum and pak choi stood at $8.70 and $5.50 respectively. The overall wholesale price of vegetables is comparable to the level of a normal day. The supply of eggs to the wholesale market remained steady and abundant, with the average daily supply standing at about 4 million for the past week.

The total supply of chilled meat from the Mainland yesterday was about 44 tonnes, nearly 85 per cent of Hong Kong's daily average supply from the Mainland. The live pig supply was normal.

About 120 000 head of chilled poultry were supplied yesterday while live chickens were in abundant supply and about 7 400 were slaughtered locally.

Regarding the rice supply, in compliance with the requirement of the Government, stockholders of rice have to maintain the reserve stock of rice at a level sufficient for consumption by the local population for 15 days. The trade generally stocks double the required amount, which is sufficient for one month's consumption by Hong Kong citizens. In recent years, the import and consumption of rice in Hong Kong has stood at a steady level of around 320 000 to 330 000 tonnes per year. The import quantity (including reserve stock) as of end-January 2022 was 30 400 tonnes. Suppliers also maintain a reserve for food that can be stored, such as frozen meat, for around three months' stock generally.

The Government keeps monitoring the food supply situation closely, and liaises with major food suppliers and the Mainland authorities to ensure a stable food supply.

The AFCD updates and publishes the fresh food supply information daily. Members of the public may visit the AFCD website for updates on daily supplies and wholesale prices of fresh food (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/agriculture/agr_fresh/agr_fresh.html).

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