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A Government spokesman today (December 19) reminded people not to bring illicit meat or live poultry into Hong Kong, or they would face prosecution.
"As the Winter Solstice is just around the corner, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) have stepped up enforcement to suppress illegal importation of meat and live poultry into Hong Kong to protect public health," the spokesman said.
During the period from November 1 to December 15, a total of 363 cases were detected at the land boundary control points, leading to the seizure of about 930 kilogrammes of pork, 470 kilogrammes of chicken and 240 kilogrammes of other kinds of meat including duck, beef and mutton, worth about $49,600.
In a joint operation at Lo Wu Control Point on Monday (December 17), the officers seized from three arriving passengers six kilogrammes of chicken, three kilogrammes of pork and four kilogrammes of mutton, worth about $390.
The spokesman said people needed to obtain an official certificate from the competent authority of the exporting country before importing meat or poultry into Hong Kong.
Under the Imported Game, Meat and Poultry Regulations of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, 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.
Under the Public Health (Animals and Birds) Regulation of the Public Health (Animals and Birds) Ordinance, any person who imports live poultry without a valid health certificate issued by the veterinary authority in the country of export is liable to a fine of $25,000 and forfeiture of such animals.
Ends/Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Issued at HKT 19:10
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