Report by Yashasvi Anika Tandon
Hong Kong is an important administrative centre in Asia. Also, Hong Kong gets most of its bread and fresh produce from China with the help of cross-border trucks. (Hong Kong is a part of China)
Cross-border trucks are Chinese trucks that transport things by road to neighbouring countries.
Drivers of these trucks have tested positive for Covid-19 and have been quarantined. Other truck drivers who haven’t tested positive for the virus have also been quarantined, as a precaution. Due to this, China has decided not to send drivers to Hong Kong to transport bread and fresh produce as China doesn’t want anyone to be infected with the virus. China is trying to find replacements for over a hundred quarantined truck drivers. 250 Chinese vegetable truck drivers have been quarantined as well.
So, Hong Kong is facing a shortage of bread and fresh produce. People are queuing up in shops to buy and store supplies fearing that this crisis might persist. Hong Kong gets 98% of its poultry, 91% of its vegetables, and 76% of its freshwater fish from the People’s Republic of China.
Supply of fresh food to Hong Kong has decreased by 45% to 50%.
Before this crisis, 300 cross-border trucks filled with fresh produce would be sent to Hong Kong every day. Only 50 vegetable trucks are left in Hong Kong and just a few dozen trucks are being sent to Hong Kong, as of now. Due to this schools, playgrounds, parks, and other places have been closed.
Flights have reduced by 90% and restaurants are closing early. Also, prices of bread and fresh produce have increased.