July 6, 2023
HONG KONG – The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government said it will take all necessary measures to safeguard food safety and public health after an international organization granted Japan approval for dumping radioactive water into the ocean.
Questioning the probity of the report, lawmakers and experts both criticized Japan’s plan and called for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government to make clear contingency plans to protect residents’ safety.
The Japanese government recently announced that it plans to discharge treated nuclear wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the sea as early as August, sparking widespread international concern.
According to a final report released by the International Atomic Energy Agency on Tuesday, it has concluded that Japan’s plans to release treated water stored at the nuclear power station into the sea are consistent with IAEA Safety Standards.
In a statement on Tuesday, the HKSAR government said it will ask Japan for more information and scientific evidence on how the safety of nuclear wastewater discharge will be ensured.
After fully considering the IAEA report, expert opinion and other relevant information, the government intends to publish import control measures for Japanese-related foods based on scientific assessment.
After fully considering the IAEA report, expert opinion and other relevant information, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government intends to publish import control measures for Japanese-related foods based on scientific assessment
Since the Japanese government’s announcement of the discharge plan in 2021, the HKSAR government has repeatedly expressed grave concern about its impact.
It has indicated to the Japanese authorities that once Japan commences the discharge, the HKSAR government will immediately take control measures, including imposing import control on aquatic products from high-risk prefectures of Japan, the statement reads.
Luk Bing-lam, chairman of the Hong Kong Nuclear Society, pointed out that many parts of the report employed ‘aware’ instead of ‘agree’, suggesting that not all experts agree with the report’s conclusions. He added that the report did not openly discuss details about Japan’s plan, hoping that the IAEA would further explain it.
Luk said that this report would not help to dispel the public’s doubts. If the government will not completely ban food from Fukushima, it might reduce the public’s confidence in imported food, he added.
Legislative Council member Elizabeth Quat said that it was extremely unreasonable of the Japanese government to refuse to accept the assessment of other international organizations, while relying on the incomplete IAEA report as an endorsement for discharging nuclear wastewater into the sea.
She warned that this could cause irreversible damage to global marine ecology and future generations’ health.
Steven Ho Chun-yin, the lawmaker representing agriculture and fisheries sectors, also criticized Japan’s actions. Ho urged the government not only to examine the contents of the summary report, but also to seek assistance from relevant state agencies to reduce the risk of nuclear waste water discharge from Japan.
Ho called for the government to oppose Japan’s current discharge plan and supervise Japan to formulate a new plan that will not affect the safety of other countries and regions.
In June, an official of the Municipal Affairs Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region government said that if Japan starts to discharge nuclear waste water into the sea, Macao will immediately expand the scope of import suspension to nine Japanese counties with the highest food contamination risk, including aquatic products, vegetables and fruits from Tokyo.