Coronavirus: Hong Kong could bring in mainland Chinese butchers to ensure continued supply of fresh food, livestock after outbreak at abattoirs
- Sheung Shui slaughterhouse and its smaller Tsuen Wan rival to shut down temporarily on Saturday for disinfection after 183 out of 866 samples tested positive for Covid-19
- Butchers lament they have to close for business temporarily and ask the government for financial aid to tide them over
Hong Kong authorities on Friday sought to bring in “experienced and skilled” butchers from mainland China after an outbreak at the city’s two slaughterhouses resulted in operations being suspended and dwindling supplies.
To ensure a continuous supply of fresh food and livestock, the government said it was coordinating with industries and mainland authorities to deliver the goods through rail from Lo Wu after opening three cross-border sea freight routes.
According to a statement from the government, authorities were “discussing plans with the mainland to deploy professional and experienced personnel to Hong Kong to assist with the resumption of local fresh meat supply”.
The city’s largest operator, Sheung Shui slaughterhouse, and its smaller rival in Tsuen Wan would shut down temporarily on Saturday until further notice for disinfection after 183 of 866 samples from the Sheung Shui abattoir tested positive.
Many butchers said on Friday they would be forced to shut temporarily as a result of the slaughterhouse closures and asked for financial aid from the government to survive.
