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Hong Kong Customs today (August 28) reminded people that they faced prosecution if they brought illicit meat into Hong Kong.
The Customs and Excise Department conducted a joint operation with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department at Lo Wu Control Point today to suppress illegal importation of fresh meat and poultry by arriving passengers from Shenzhen.
During the operation, the officers seized from six arriving passengers a total of 20.2 kg of fresh pork, 19.8 kg of fresh chicken, 1.7 kg of fresh pigeon and 5.2 kg of fresh duck, worth in total about $3,000.
The case was handed over to the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department for follow-up action.
"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," a Customs spokesman said.
He reminded people to obtain an official certificate from the competent authority of the exporting country before importing meat or poultry into Hong Kong.
People bringing meat and poultry into Hong Kong without an official certificate face a maximum penalty of a $50,000 fine and imprisonment for six months.
Between January 1 and August 27, Customs officers of Lo Wu Control Points detected 298 similar cases, leading to the seizure of 1,333.2 kg of pork, 886.2 kg of chicken and 271.9 kg of other meat, worth in total about $41,300.
Ends/Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:53
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