Hong Kong leader John Lee on Tuesday threatened to ban import of sea products from a large number of Japanese prefectures if treated radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima plant is discharged into the ocean.

The Fukushima plant was destroyed by an earthquake and tsunami that hit the eastern coast of Japan in 2011 and the release of accumulated water from the plant is a decades-long project, that has now been given the green light by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

It is pertinent to mention here that Hong Kong is Japan’s second-largest market for agricultural and fisheries exports. Mainland China is its biggest, Reuters reported. 

Tokyo, however, says the releases will be safe and meet global standards.

Hong Kong’s current ban on shipments from one prefecture would “definitely” be expanded, said Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, at a media briefing.

“If the exercise really starts, we’ll be banning a large number of prefectures’ sea products.”

China said last week it would tighten its scrutiny on food from Japan and maintain curbs on some Japanese imports. South Korea said a ban on food and seafood imports from the Fukushima region would remain in place.

Lee said he had asked Hong Kong’s secretary for the environment and ecology to form a multi-department team to design the city’s action plan. The government would take “decisive action” and announce details of the plan to the public as soon as possible, Lee said.

“The catering industry will be affected, but I am sure that they will understand that we’re forced to make a decision because of this unprecedented exercise.”

In 2022, Japan exported 75.5 billion yen ($536 million) in fishery products to Hong Kong, according to Japanese government statistics.