Private abattoir remains closed despite angry calls by Hong Kong pig farmers for government action amid African swine fever shutdown

Farmers say they are starting to run out of feed and that their farms could be ‘overwhelmed’ by pigs soon

Locals are being deprived of fresh pork because of closure, they say

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The supply of fresh pork has dried up at Hong Kong’s wet markets. Photo: Felix Wong

Published: 7:30am, 16 May 2019Updated: 3:38am, 6 Jun 2019

A private abattoir in Hong Kong has stonewalled calls to open its doors to accept local hogs amid a case of African swine fever as pig farmers demanded the government step in and take tougher action.

Farmers said on Wednesday they were starting to run out of feed and that their farms could be “overwhelmed” by pigs should the Tsuen Wan slaughterhouse not open soon.

The privately owned facility is effectively the only abattoir in the city after the public and much bigger one in Sheung Shui closed for a pig cull and cleansing operation after a hog imported from mainland China tested positive for African swine fever last Friday.

“The abattoir operator seems to have a couldn’t-care-less attitude,” Chan Kin-yip, chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Agricultural Associations, said.

The Tsuen Wan slaughterhouse will not accept local pigs. Photo: Felix Wong

“Of course, we are outraged. But what can we do? They are a big business.”

Private abattoir remains closed despite angry calls by Hong Kong pig farmers for government action amid African swine fever shutdown

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Farmers say they are starting to run out of feed and that their farms could be ‘overwhelmed’ by pigs soon Locals are being deprived of fresh pork because of closure, they say

Farmers say they are starting to run out of feed and that their farms could be ‘overwhelmed’ by pigs soon

Locals are being deprived of fresh pork because of closure, they say