HONG KONG: The daily supply of live pigs in Hong Kong is back to 85 percent of its normal level following the recovery of supplies on the mainland in recent days, according to the Hong Kong government.

Cheuk Wing-hing, acting permanent secretary for food and health, said at a meeting of a Legislative Council panel on food safety and environmental hygiene yesterday that government officials had met with a live pig dealer to ensure a stable supply of live pigs from the mainland following the recent shortage.

The agent, Ng Fung Hong Ltd, had worked with mainland suppliers to secure a steady supply of live pigs, he said.

"After these measures were introduced, the daily supply picked up on July 4 to about 85 percent of the normal level," he said.

The daily supply included 4,000 pigs from the mainland and 600-700 from local sources, he said, adding that there had been no major increases in the auction price of live pigs.

Earlier this month, daily imports of live pigs from the mainland declined to 3,000- 3,400, compared to the normal level of 4,500.

The decline was due to a pork shortage on the mainland, resulting in higher wholesale prices in Hong Kong.

About 80 percent of the live pigs supplied to Hong Kong are from the mainland.

At the meeting yesterday, lawmakers and pig farmers' groups urged the government to introduce more agents and help pig farmers raise pigs on the mainland.

Cheuk said the government was open to introducing more agents as long as the move did not hurt the national agricultural policy.

The proposal would have to be discussed with the Ministry of Commerce.

The ministry had agreed to actively consider helping Hong Kong pig farms raise pigs on the mainland, he said.

(China Daily 07/11/2007 page4)