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The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) warned today (October 14) that it was an offence to bring into Hong Kong any meat without an official health certificate.
The warning follows the seizure this morning of 350 kilogrammes of smuggled chilled pork at the Lok Ma Chau Control Point in a joint operation by the FEHD and the Customs and Excise Department.
The officers stopped and searched two incoming cars at the control point about 7am, and in the boot of both vehicles found a total of eight foam boxes of chilled meat.
Two male drivers, aged 39 and 40, were arrested and charged with importing unmanifested cargo and importing meat without an official health certificate.
"Under the Imported Game, Meat and Poultry Regulations, it is an offence to bring into Hong Kong any meat or poultry without an official health certificate. The maximum penalty is a fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment," an FEHD spokesman said.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing unmanifested cargo is liable, on summary conviction, to a maximum fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years, or on conviction on indictment, to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Ends/Friday, October 14, 2005
Issued at HKT 19:00
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