**********************************************************
Police arrested five Mainland men and seized a quantity of buddhist pines in an anti-buddhist pine theft operation conducted in Sai Kung yesterday (November 23).
Speaking at a press briefing today (November 24), the Acting Divisional Commander of Marine East, Mr Joseph Li, said acting on information, the operation was mounted in the small hours on November 23 at Nam She Wan in Sai Kung.
Mr Li said officers from Marine Police and Rural Patrol Unit of Sai Kung Division conducted a sweeping in the vicinity of Nam She Wan in Sai Kung and arrested five Mainland men aged between 18 and 45 on a beach at Nam She Wan.
During the operation, 10 buddhist pines, a sampan and some equipment for cutting the buddhist pines were seized.
The five Mainland men, arrested for conspiracy to theft and illegal immigrant, are still being detained for enquiries.
Mr Li called on members of the public to report to the Police when they find any illegal harvesting of buddhist pines.
¡§Police will continue to step up patrol and enforcement action in a bid to prevent the occurrence of such crime,¡¨ he said.
Police report No.3
Ends/Thursday, November 24, 2005
Issued at HKT 11:48
NNNN
