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Forty-four convictions for breaches of anti-pollution legislation enforced by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) were recorded last month (June).
Twenty-three of the convictions were under the Waste Disposal Ordinance, 16 under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance, three under the Water Pollution Control Ordinance, and two under the Noise Control Ordinance.
One of the heaviest penalties for waste import and export and chemical waste offence cases was handed down in June. It involved a case of smuggling of a large quantity of waste computer monitors to the Mainland.
A cargo vessel and a pleasure craft were intercepted close to the eastern marine border of Hong Kong on May 5 by the Marine Police. Subsequent investigations showed that the two vessels were engaged in an export offence. The Mainland shipmaster and the Hong Kong shipmaster of the two vessels were prosecuted by the EPD for conspiracy in the export of controlled waste without a permit under the Waste Disposal Ordinance and for failure to engage the service of a licensed chemical waste collector under the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste)(General) Regulation.
They were convicted and sentenced to two months' jail for each of the two environmental offences and a four-month sentence for export offences under the Import and Export Ordinance. The sentences will run concurrently.
"The heavy penalties imposed by the court will act as a strong deterrent against illegal transboundary movements of hazardous waste. The Government is committed to stringently enforcing border control to protect the environment," an EPD spokesman said.
Ends/Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:31
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