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 The city of 7.5 million people reported a record 614 coronavirus
cases on Monday, in the biggest test yet for the Chinese territory's
zero-COVID strategy.
Hong Kong imports 90% of its food supplies, with the mainland its
most important source, especially for fresh food. Consumers have
already seen a shortage of some foreign imported goods, including
premium seafood, due to stringent flight restrictions.
The government tried to assuage worries of a shortage of food from
the mainland after some cross-border truck drivers tested positive
for the coronavirus.
Several drivers have been forced to isolate but overall fraesh food
supplies “remained stable”, despite a drop in supply of vegetables
to certain markets, it said on Sunday.
At a fresh food market in Tin Shui Wai, in the city's northern New
Territories, vendors said there would be no vegetables in coming
days, prompting customers to buy up produce.
"Of course you have to buy. There will be no vegetables from
tomorrow. The trucks can't come here...so the vegetables are very,
very pricey," said a 50 year old woman surnamed Chow.
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 John Chan, a vegetable vendor, said the
disruptions had seen supply drop by 30%,
including for products such as Chinese flowering
cabbage. He cautioned that hundreds of kilograms
of vegetables due to arrive on Tuesday may not
be able to arrive.
"I still don't know if they can cross the
border. If there is none, the prices will
further increase or we have nothing to sell."
Shelves stocking vegetables, tissues and cup
noodles were bare at several supermarkets across
the former British colony with customers
stocking up over concerns that products would be
even harder to get in the coming days.
Chow Lai Sheng, a 60-year old janitor, said she
bought four toilet rolls as well as instant
noodles and canned food.
"The COVID situation is severe. And there are no
veggies, so I stockpile a bit," she said.
(Writing by Farah Master; Editing by Raju
Gopalakrishnan)
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