The supply of fresh food to Hong Kong from the mainland will be maintained to meet demand during Spring Festival, an official has said.

Wan Qingliang, vice-governor of Guangdong province, said: "Guangdong has been supplying 1,000 live pigs and 60,000 live chickens per day since last Friday to meet demand for this important Chinese festival.

"The increased supply, together with the normal daily supply of live pigs and poultry, will help keep food supplies stable in Hong Kong."

Wan said the Ministry of Commerce recently authorized food dealers in the province to diversify channels of fresh meat sourcing.

"Guangdong has set up a leaders group to guarantee the food supply to Hong Kong and Macao," Wan said.

"Food export firms in the province have also been urged to abide by inspection and quarantine regulations and to make sure food to Hong Kong and Macao is safe, hygienic, and of high quality," he said.

York Chow, secretary for food and health in the Hong Kong special administrative region, said the supply of live pigs to Hong Kong averaged 3,900 head per day last month, almost up to the normal daily supply from the mainland.

However, Chow said the supply of live cattle was rather unstable due to the snowstorms that have affected transportation in central and southern China.

Most live cattle for Hong Kong come from the provinces of Shandong and Hebei, as well as Inner Mongolia.

The supply of live cattle averaged only 67 head last month, much lower than the average of 100 a day.

(China Daily February 5, 2008)