Hong Kong residents flooded supermarkets and neighborhood fresh food markets today to supply large quantities of vegetables, noodles and other essentials following a record number of COVID-19 outbreaks in the metropolitan area and transportation problems. .
The metropolis of 7.5 million people announced a record number of 614 coronavirus infections today, in the biggest test to date for Hong Kong’s zero-tolerance policy towards COVID.
Hong Kong imports 90% of its food supplies, with mainland China being the main source, mainly for fresh food. Consumers are already experiencing a shortage of some foreign imported goods, such as seafood, due to strict flight restrictions.
The government has sought to allay concerns about food shortages in the mainland following positive coronavirus tests on some truck drivers carrying out cross-border transport. Many drivers have been forced to isolate themselves but overall supplies of fresh food “remain stable” despite a reduction in vegetable supplies in some markets, the government announced yesterday.
At the fresh food market in the Tin Shui Wai district of the metropolitan New Territory, vendors said there would be no vegetables in the coming days, prompting consumers to rush to make the necessary supplies. “Of course you have to shop. There will be no vegetables from tomorrow. Trucks can not come here; so vegetables are very, very expensive,” said a 50-year-old woman.
John Chan, a fruit and vegetable trader, said problems had led to a 30% drop in supply, including products such as Chinese cabbage. He pointed out that hundreds of kilos of vegetables that are expected to be delivered tomorrow may not arrive. “I still do not know if they will be able to cross the border. If there are no quantities at all, prices will rise further or we will have nothing to sell.”
The supermarket shelves where vegetables, stationery and noodles are usually found were empty in many grocery stores in the former British colony, with customers buying large quantities worrying that things would get even more difficult in the coming days.
Chou Lai Sheng, a 60-year-old caretaker, said she bought four rolls of toilet paper as well as doubles and cans.
“The situation with COVID is serious. And there are no vegetables, so I’re making a small stock,” he said.
Source: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ
Source: Capital
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