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Hong Kong Customs today (July 11) reminds members of the public not to bring into Hong Kong illicit fresh meat, or they might face prosecution.
Customs and Excise Department conducted a joint operation with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department at Lo Wu Control Point today (July 11) to suppress illegal importation of fresh meat and poultry by arriving passengers from Shenzhen.
During the operation, the officers seized from ten arriving passengers a total of 42.4kg fresh pork, 10kg fresh chicken, 0.8kg fresh beef and 1.5kg fresh duck, worth about $2000.
The passengers and the seizure were handed over to the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department for follow-up action.
A Customs spokesman said, "Hong Kong Customs has been working closely with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department in cracking down on illegal importation of fresh meat and poultry. Similar joint operations will continue."
He reminded the public to obtain a certificate from the official authority of exporting country before importing meat or poultry meat into Hong Kong.
Under the Imported Game, Meat and Poultry Regulations of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Chapter 132, it is an offence to bring into Hong Kong any meat and poultry without an official certificate. The maximum penalty is a fine of $50,000 and an imprisonment for six months.
Ends/Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Issued at HKT 19:15
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