A Japanese diplomat has urged Hong Kong to lift its 13-month-long ban on seafood imports from 10 Japanese prefectures, following signals from Beijing that it may gradually ease similar restrictions. Kenichi Okada, Japan’s consul general in Hong Kong, made the appeal on Wednesday during the opening of the city’s 9th Japan Autumn Festival.
Hong Kong currently prohibits aquatic products from prefectures including Tokyo, Fukushima, and Chiba. This restriction was imposed last year in response to Japan’s release of 1.34 million tonnes of treated wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant. The Centre for Food Safety also enhanced radiation inspections on other Japanese seafood imports.
Okada expressed regret over the prolonged ban but highlighted that Hong Kong remains Japan’s largest global market for aquatic products. He called on the Hong Kong government to make the “correct decision” and lift the ban based on scientific evidence.
His appeal follows comments from Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, who stated that any adjustment to the restrictions would require “sufficient scientific data and evidence.” The mainland has already begun talks with Japan to gradually resume seafood imports, and Okada expressed hope that Hong Kong would soon follow suit.
He added that Japan was grateful for the trust Hongkongers had placed in the country’s seafood products. Hong Kong’s catering industry has also urged the government to ease the restrictions, citing significant impacts on the local dining sector, particularly high-end restaurants.
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