Leung Chun-ying ready to help mainland mums buy infant formula
Chief executive, sympathising with parents' dilemma, suggests direct re-exports from HK
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying says he is willing for the city to help meet the mainland's needs for infant formula by "re-exporting baby milk powder directly from Hong Kong to the mainland".
Leung said he was sympathetic to mainlanders who relied on Hong Kong's supplies of milk powder - a key target of parallel-goods traders - before new regulations last month curbed the transport of the product across the border.
The Leung administration would be willing to co-operate with mainland authorities to help these people, he said.
"Once the milk powder arrives at our ports or airport, we can re-export [it] directly to the mainland," he suggested in an interview with pastor Enoch Lam Yee-lok that appeared on Christian website Channel J yesterday.
As of March 1, travellers to the mainland are allowed to carry only up to two tins of infant milk, or 1.8kg, per person per day, to limit the unlicensed export of powdered formula for children under three years old.
Demand for non-local formula is high across the border, where parents distrust mainland supplies after melamine-tainted milk killed at least six babies and made 300,000 ill in 2008.