Japan fisheries minister tries in vain to reverse Hong Kong's import ban

HONG KONG -- Japan's minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries visited Hong Kong on Friday and sought a reversal of import restrictions on certain products from Fukushima prefecture and the surrounding area, to no avail.

The minister, Tetsushi Sakamoto, met with Cheuk Wing-hing, the city's deputy chief secretary for administration, after visiting a major food expo to promote Japanese products and their safety. Hong Kong is Japan's largest food export destination in the region.