Ripples of Fukushima: Hong Kong will ban more Japanese products if radioactive water is released

HONG KONG –

Hong Kong will instantly ban the import of aquatic merchandise from Fukushima and different Japanese prefectures if Tokyo discharges handled radioactive wastewater into the ocean, a prime official within the metropolis mentioned Wednesday.

Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan mentioned though the wastewater from the broken Fukushima nuclear plant can be handled earlier than discharging into the Pacific Ocean, any errors within the course of would considerably have an effect on ecology and meals security. The concern stems from Japan’s U.N.-endorsed, however controversial, plan to steadily launch the handled water.

“Our assessment shows prefectures near Fukushima have higher risks, so we are now taking a responsible way for our residents,” he advised reporters at a briefing.

The 10 affected territories are Tokyo, Fukushima, Chiba, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Gunma, Miyagi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, he added.

An enormous earthquake and tsunami in March 2011 destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant’s cooling methods, inflicting three reactors to soften and releasing massive quantities of radiation. The tanks storing the water used because the accident to chill the reactor cores will attain their capability in early 2024.

In 2021, Japan’s authorities introduced plans to steadily launch the handled — however nonetheless barely radioactive — water following its dilution to what it says are secure ranges. Japanese officers say the water, at present saved in a couple of thousand tanks on the plant, must be eliminated to forestall unintended leaks in case of an earthquake and to make room for the plant’s decommissioning.

Last week, the U.N. nuclear company endorsed the plan, saying it meets worldwide requirements and the environmental and well being influence can be negligible.

But the plan has confronted fierce protests from native fishing communities involved about security and reputational injury. Neighboring international locations, together with South Korea, China and Pacific Island nations, have additionally raised security issues.

In Hong Kong, the import of sure merchandise — similar to vegetables and fruit — from Fukushima is at present banned. Other merchandise similar to meat and poultry from there are allowed in if they arrive with a radiation certificates.

The import of many meals merchandise from 4 different Japanese prefectures instantly south of Fukushima — Gunma, Ibaraki, Tochigi and Chiba — may also should be accompanied with radiation certificates.

For the deliberate insurance policies introduced Wednesday, Tse mentioned the federal government will likely be scientific and assessment information. If the scenario is secure, the federal government will think about stress-free its restrictions, he mentioned.

Earlier, Naoto Nakahara, deputy consul basic on the Japanese Consulate in Hong Kong, advised Nikkei that the Hong Kong authorities was “trying to win brownie points from Beijing.”

In a response to the reported criticism however with out figuring out anybody, Tse mentioned officers devised insurance policies in accordance with Hong Kong’s scenario.

“Hong Kong has a high degree of autonomy,” he mentioned.

Last yr, the main meals imports from Japan amounted to about 2% of the overall meals provide in Hong Kong, official information confirmed. Although Hong Kong shouldn’t be extremely depending on Japanese meals merchandise when it comes to amount, many residents love Japanese meals and there are a lot of Japanese eating places within the metropolis.