Top Japanese diplomat in Hong Kong urges end to ban on seafood imports from country after G7 nations say Fukushima restrictions should be axed
- Top Japanese diplomat Kenichi Okada says it’s ‘heartbreaking’ to hear Japanese businesses in Hong Kong say sales have dropped ‘because of rumours’
- Okada speaks out after G7 countries asked for the ‘immediate repeal’ of import bans on Japanese food products.
The Japanese consulate in Hong Kong has urged the city government to relax its ban on seafood imports from the Northeast Asian country, saying it is heartbreaking to witness how local businesses offering food from the country are suffering.
Consul General Kenichi Okada was speaking on Tuesday, just two days after the G7 asked for the “immediate repeal” of import bans on Japanese food products.
He told a media briefing on Tuesday he had constantly appealed to the government to drop the ban imposed after the country began releasing treated radioactive water from the mothballed Fukushima power plant, echoing a similar call from the Group of Seven nations.
“It breaks my heart to hear that Japanese businesses in Hong Kong say sales have dropped and they are struggling because of irrational and baseless rumours,” he said.
“We will continue to provide the Hong Kong government with the necessary information and strongly urge the early removal of import restrictions on Japanese products based on scientific evidence.”
He welcomed officials to visit Fukushima to understand more about the discharge process.