Business at Western Wholesale Food Market was largely unaffected yesterday, when it implemented a registration system for entry, a trade union said.
It was the second market to step up security, following the Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Food Market, which implemented the system on May 15.
The measures, which require all people and vehicles to be registered with market management before entry, was aimed at curbing smuggling and other illegal activities, said a spokesman for Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.
Ng Wing-yan, chairman of Imported Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Association, said traders were still coming to the Western market even though registration complicated entry.
'The situation [in Western] is rather different from Cheung Sha Wan,' he said. 'The traders do not have other choices on Hong Kong side. That's why business on the first day was basically unaffected and we don't foresee significant business loss.'
Trade at the Cheung Sha Wan market has reportedly dropped by at least 20 to 25 per cent.
