After Pork, Fresh Beef And Lamb Supplies Dry Up

Hong Kong's fresh beef and lamb supplies went the same way as pork on Tuesday, with stocks of both selling out after the city's abattoirs stopped work in light of an African swine fever infection in a pig imported from the mainland.

The discovery of the highly contagious virus on Friday prompted a cull of some 6,000 pigs and the suspension of live pig imports.

The infection was detected in a pig at the Sheung Shui abattoir, which is now closed for quarantine measures. This means cows, lambs and local pigs cannot be slaughtered there either for the time being.

Dozens of beef stalls across Hong Kong have reported that they no longer have any fresh meat to sell to their customers.

Trade representatives said it was too early to say how much this was costing the city's butchers.

Officials have said the Sheung Shui slaughterhouse will probably reopen on Monday, after thorough cleansing following the pig cull. The animals are being electrocuted and wrapped in plastic before being taken to landfills.

"This is really for the public good that we have to close the slaughterhouse ... therefore I hope everybody would be patient for the next few days," said Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan.

Chan said officials are trying to find out why a private abattoir in Tsuen Wan has also closed following the swine fever discovery. She said she hopes it can start operating again soon, to minimise the impact on local meat supplies.