Fir Real? Labour dispute in Washington State threatens Hong Kong’s Christmas tree imports

The USA has suffered much accusation of late for meddling in Hong Kong’s affairs. Even if you don’t take offence to, or indeed believe, their influence/interference in the whole Occupy Central ordeal, we’re sure you’ll be impassioned to hear they’re trying to ruin Christmas in the Kong. Unacceptable!

Due to a labour dispute at the Port of Tacoma in Washington, Christmas tree exports from Washington State and Oregon have been delayed. Nooo!

In the last month a series of dragging contract talks have caused a 60 percent slowdown at the Port of Tacoma, from where the trees are usually shipped to Hong Kong and the rest of Asia.

According to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong imported roughly 22,000 fresh Christmas trees in 2013, with the vast majority coming from the USA. It takes up to 22 days for the pines and spruces to reach the city via ship, so time is running out.

In an interview with the SCMP, Shirley Lai, owner of Chu Hing Garden and supplier of trees to major hotels and restaurants in the city, said, “If the trees arrive by Dec. 10 or 12, it will still be okay, but after that, it will be a disaster.” A DISASTER!!

She added that since customers liked to choose their festive foliage as early as November, having the trees come midway through December is just “not worth it”.

The delay has also caused worry for the tree sellers in the States. According to Reuters, a Washington State tree farmer said that 2,200 of his trees bound for Hong Kong have not yet left the port, even though they should have been on their merry ways weeks ago.

Lai, however, expects six containers of trees, centrepieces and wreaths to leave the USA this week. Phew!

America, we can handle you butting your nose into our business from time to time, but leaf our Christmas trees alone (bad pun, not typo).

Photo: Wikimedia



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