Delayed trucks at mainland Chinese border push Hong Kong vegetable prices through the roof
- Supermarket vegetable stalls picked clean and vendors boost prices over delayed goods
- Unionist says dozens of cross-border truck drivers carrying vegetables stuck in Shenzhen after two of their colleagues reportedly test positive for Covid-19
Dozens of cross-border truck drivers carrying vegetables became stuck in Shenzhen after two of their colleagues reportedly tested positive at the crossing, a unionist said on Sunday.
In a statement, the city government confirmed that “some drivers” were required by the mainland authorities to undergo quarantine after they went to certain places without clearing it with officials.
Post reporters and photographers visited major supermarkets across the city on Sunday and found vegetables sold out in many places, while prices at some market stalls were reported to have more than doubled.
In Causeway Bay, a vegetable vendor surnamed Lei said the shortage had hit his income but he had marked up prices. He was selling Shanghai bok choy – a type of Chinese cabbage – for HK$24 a catty (about 600g), compared with HK$14 on other days.
“Many customers complained the vegetables were more expensive and they bought less,” said Lei, adding there was not much retailers could do because the supplies could not enter the city.