A spokesperson for Hong Kong's Health, Welfare and Food Bureau said yesterday that the local government has confirmed the first batch of registered freshwater fish farms in response to worries over the safety of supplies from the mainland.

"Both the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong authorities are very concerned about the safety of freshwater fish for supply to Hong Kong. Officials have held discussions on how to strengthen inspection and quarantine," he said.

On August 22, local authorities said they were stepping up food safety checks after the illegal carcinogen malachite green was discovered in samples of fish imported from the mainland. Local supplies had been found to be clear of the adulterant.

Yesterday's list included 18 registered farms in Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Shunde in the neighboring province of Guangdong, and the spokesperson said the government would announce the other approved suppliers as soon as possible.

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department had met with the Shenzhen and Guangdong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureaus to discuss the issue, according to the spokesperson.

Hong Kong officials also visited a fish farm in Zhongshan on Monday to see monitoring procedures there for themselves.

(Xinhua News Agency August 30, 2005)