Supply of seafood from the mainland will resume today and that of freshwater fish was likely to be restored before the Winter Solstice, the government said yesterday.

The supply of seafood dropped by 20 per cent yesterday as mainland suppliers stopped exporting them to Hong Kong, citing strengthened quarantine measures as the reason. But seafish supply didn't drop significantly because local fishermen increased their output.

Last night, a Health, Welfare and Food Bureau spokesman said the Guangdong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau had informed Hong Kong that seafood supply would resume today.

Earlier, Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food York Chow told reporters after meeting Minister of Health Gao Qiang in Beijing that Hong Kong and the central government both were worried over the safety of fish after some of them tested positive for carcinogens.

Chow said both sides had agreed on quarantine standards to speed up the process and make supplies to the city smooth. But the SAR government would still inform the public if any contaminated fish were found.

"Hong Kong people need food safety information under all circumstances. We will inform them about that and the health risk," he said.

Speaking at a Legislative Council (LegCo) panel meeting before the full mainland assurance, Deputy Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food Cheuk Wing-hing said: "There is no official ban on the export and import of seafood. The halt in supply has been caused mainly by strengthened quarantine measures. Hopefully, the supply can be resumed today."

Hong Kong Chamber of Seafood Merchants Chairman Lee Choi-wah said he had been notified that seafood, including shrimps and crabs, would be imported from the mainland from today.

Prices of seafood shot up yesterday because of the halt in supply. A catty of shrimps that used to sell for HK$40 cost HK$50.

But local fishermen benefited from the break in import as their catch fetched 10 to 20 per cent higher price.

"The supply of fish has not been affected because we can get it from local fishermen," Lee said.

Some restaurants used seafood from Southeast Asian economies such as Viet Nam on their menu.

Hong Kong New Territories Fish Culture Association Chairman Lai Loi-chau said he was aware that some sellers had smuggled fish from the neighbouring areas and sold them as local products.

Also, Guangdong and Hong Kong authorities have strived to resume the supply of mainland freshwater fish to the SAR before the Winter Solstice on Decemeber 22, Cheuk said.

But Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Territories Freshwater Fish Wholesale Association Chairman Tommy Hui Hon-man said he had not been told about the development.

Mainland freshwater fish suppliers stopped exporting their products to Hong Kong more than 10 days ago to show their frustration over the SAR's quarantine standards.

Editor: Yan